Al-Attiyah matches staggering Dakar Rally record as sixth overall victory edges ever closer

Nasser Al-Attiyah has taken a huge step towards a sixth Dakar Rally victory, following a record-equalling 50th stage win on the penultimate stage of the 2026 edition of the event.

Ahead of the 12th stage of the Dakar Rally, Al-Attiyah held an eight-minute lead ahead of Nani Roma. Sebastien Loeb and Mattias Ekström sat 20 minutes adrift, while Carlos Sainz Sr. sat almost 30 minutes behind. 

The penultimate stage in the car class saw total dominance from the leader, who secured yet another stage win ahead of Mitch Guthrie and Toby Price. 

Second placed Roma lost over six minutes to Al-Attiyah, handing the Qatar-born driver a 15-minute lead heading into the final stage. 

There was a change in the fight for the final podium position, as Ekström overtook Loeb in the official standings in the fight for third.

Just one stage remains in this year's edition of the Dakar Rally, set to take place on Saturday. It is a short 105 kilometre stage, from Yanbu to Yanbu.

Al-Attiyah is on the verge of a sixth overall victory and could even snatch a record-breaking 51st stage win. 

The final stage takes place on gravel roads along the coast, keeping the door open to sudden late retirements and mistakes.

Check out the overall standings for the car category below!