SA Henk Lategan Grabs Dakar Rally Lead After Impressive 48H Chrono Stage

South African Rally Raid champion Henk Lategan has surged into the lead of the 2025 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. Partnered with navigator Brian Cummings, Lategan impressed in the grueling two-day, 1,000km 48H Chrono stage, piloting the South African-built Toyota Gazoo Hilux to a third-place finish.

Battle at the Top

Lategan finished the stage behind Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Team Overdrive Hilux) and five-time Dakar champion Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia Sandrider). Despite this, his consistent performance across stages has earned him a 4-minute, 45-second lead in the overall standings.

“It’s been a tough but rewarding couple of days. The Hilux is performing brilliantly, and Brian’s navigation has been spot-on,” said Lategan.

The competition remains fierce, with Al-Rajhi and Al-Attiyah holding second and third positions, respectively. Australian Toby Price, a former motorcycle winner making his car debut with Overdrive Hilux, is fourth overall. Swedish World Rallycross champion Mattias Ekström (Ford Raptor) and French rally legend Sebastien Loeb (Dacia Sandrider) complete the top six.

Drama for Reigning Champion Carlos Sainz

Defending champion Carlos Sainz endured a tough stage, finishing 33rd after rolling his Ford Raptor. The incident has pushed the Spaniard down to 26th in the overall standings, severely denting his chances of retaining the title.

Image: Reuters

Motorcycle Class: Daniel Sanders Shines

In the motorcycle division, Australia’s Daniel Sanders claimed victory in the 48H Chrono stage aboard his Red Bull KTM. He finished ahead of the Monster Energy Honda duo of Adrien van Beverin (France) and Skyler Howes (USA).

Sanders now leads the general classification, followed by Howes and Botswana’s Ross Branch riding for Hero Motorsports.

The 2025 Dakar Rally continues to heat up, with competitors facing more treacherous terrain in the coming stages. Lategan’s early lead positions him as a strong contender, but with seasoned Dakar veterans like Al-Attiyah and Loeb in close pursuit, the battle for the crown is far from over.

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