Brazilian Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleon and their Gazoo Hilux emerged as the winners of a chaotic, confusing and controversial Dakar car stage around Al Duwadimi in the Arabian Desert on Saturday.
Belgian Guillaume De Mévius earned his first stage win of the 2025 race on Saturday to move 15th in the Ultimate standings as Mattias Ekström, Nasser Al-Attiyah, Mitch Guthrie Jr. and Seth Quintero all cemented their places in the top 10.
Saturday’s brutal 604 km Dakar Stage 6 from Ha’il to Al Duwadimi delivered several twists, turns and surprises, but not much changed in the overall rankings as South African champions Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings’ Toyota Gazoo Hilux continued to lead the way into the second week.
Saturday’s stage six opened Dakar second week in disastrous form for the leading Southern African bikers when both Ross Branch and Bradley Cox crashed out within the first 100 kilometres of the brutal 604 km special.
The 2025 Dakar Rally has served up an opening week like nothing off-road fans have ever witnessed before with a 48-hour Chrono Stage and a two-day unassisted Marathon Stage. The competitors who remain are now rewarded with a well-earned Ha'il Rest Day.
One of South Africa’s favourite race weekends, the annual Zwartkops Passion for Speed is gearing up for the weekend of 31 January and 1 February 2025. Best of all, this year’s action doubles up with a second meeting at the Red Star Raceway a week later!
