Pictures by Kin Marcin / Red Bull Content Pool
Text by Mike Charopka

Nasser Al-Attiyah grabs a stage win, Al-Rajhi takes the lead, and U.S. racers push through the desert.

Stage 9 of the Dakar 2025 brought fierce competition and critical moves as racers tackled 357 km of gravel from Riyadh to Haradh. Navigational challenges and tough terrain tested both skill and endurance, with American competitors and the Ford team showing grit and determination.

Ford vs. Dacia

A thrilling battle unfolded between Mattias Ekstrom in the Ford Raptor and Nasser Al-Attiyah in the Dacia Sandrider. The two swapped the lead throughout the early sections, but Al-Attiyah prevailed, securing Dacia’s first stage win this year. Ekstrom finished fourth, maintaining Ford’s strong presence in its first factory Dakar effort.

Meanwhile, Al-Rajhi’s steady performance earned him third place, propelling him to the top of the overall standings.

Bikers

American bikers made their mark, with Skyler Howes finishing fifth despite navigation challenges.

“Very fast stage today,” said Howes. “The broken terrain and high speeds here are my jam, and I always seem to have a great stage until I’m not. A positive first half, but I made three small mistakes after refueling, losing the time I gained.”

Luciano Benavides shone with a second consecutive stage victory, proving his ability to lead from start to finish.

Cars

Mitch Guthrie Jr. continued his impressive campaign for Ford, finishing fifth in Stage 9. Henk Lategan, who started the day as the overall leader, suffered a costly puncture and navigation errors, dropping to 11th.

“It’s a bit of a disaster, to be honest,” said Lategan. “We got lost, had two punctures, and crossed the line on a flat tire. A messy, messy, messy day for us.”

Seth Quintero overcame penalties but still holds 8th overall.

“Little bit of a bummer deal today,” Quintero reflected. “Hit waypoints out of order. Would’ve been second but dropped to eighth overall. Three long days to go—it ain’t over till it’s over.”

Challenger

Corbin Leaverton and his navigator Taye Perry showcased their resilience despite the grueling nature of the Dakar. Reflecting on Stage 9, Leaverton shared, “Navigation was crazy today with all of us up front doing circles together looking for the hidden waypoints. The last couple of days have been long and tough, but we’re still pushing!”

Perry added her perspective on the stage’s challenges, saying, “Special started with about 100km of cautions and dangers. Loose rocky river beds and, get this, some Saudi bushveld! Managed to keep a solid pace, a few minor rookie mistakes, little bit of retracing.” Despite a “silly moment” and some mild crashes, she emphasized they were ready to tackle the marathon stages.

Their determination underscores the spirit of the Dakar as they prepare for the challenges of the Empty Quarter dunes.

SSV

Brock Heger continues to dominate the SSV category, holding the overall lead despite a small penalty.

“Challenging day, but one of my favorite stages so far,” Heger said. “My teammates on the Sebastien Loeb Racing team have been super supportive during my first Dakar Rally, and I can’t thank the whole team enough.”

Closing Note

With three stages remaining, American racers and the Ford team are poised to leave their mark. Stay tuned as the rally ventures deeper into the Empty Quarter, where the stakes only get higher.

CHECK THE RESULTS ON THE OFFICIAL DAKAR DAKAR RALLY WEBSITE: https://www.dakar.live.worldrallyraidchampionship.com/en/car/9/standings

Also subscribe to my latest weekly newsletter about the Dakar Rally and some other events here