The 2026 Dakar Rally is entering its final phases, but the lead battle in the RallyGP class remains as fierce as ever.
The Argentinian is now 23 seconds ahead of Ricky Brabec heading into Stage 12. Brabec is thought to have slowed intentionally at the end of the stage to have a road order advantage tomorrow. With Benavides fourth-fastest on the stage and Brabec sixth, the American will be two places behind the rally leader in the starting order for the penultimate stage.
Carlos Sainz was third-fastest on the stage; both he and Ford Racing teammate Ekstrom closed significantly on rally leader Nasser Al-Attiyah on Stage 12, both now less than 30 minutes off the lead and Ekstrom within 21 minutes of the Dacia driver.
