Stage 10 of the 2025 Dakar Rally took competitors to the demanding Empty Quarter, an expansive desert of dunes in Saudi Arabia. This inhospitable terrain challenged participants to cover 120 kilometers of sand between Haradh and Shubaytah. The stage tested the drivers' skills and vehicle durability, causing significant changes in the standings.
Nani Roma's Comeback
Nani Roma, a Spanish driver with a solid Dakar history, secured a stage win driving the Ford Raptor. This marked the first victory for the Raptor, a vehicle developed in collaboration with M-Sport, during its Dakar debut. Roma led at every checkpoint, finishing 18 seconds ahead of Brazilian driver Lucas Moraes, who achieved his best result since Stage 7. This victory brought Roma back to the top spots, ten years after his last win in 2015.
Ford in the 2025 Dakar Rally
The Raptor, in its first full season, showcased its ability to compete with established brands such as Toyota and Dacia. This result highlights the efforts of the M-Sport team and positions Ford as a strong contender in the world championship. With this victory, Roma now has 26 career wins, evenly split between motorcycles and cars, further solidifying his legacy in Dakar history.
Shifts in the General Classification
South African driver Henk Lategan regained the lead in the general classification after a solid performance. With a 2-minute, 27-second advantage over Yazeed Al Rajhi, Lategan maintained his position on challenging terrain. Al Rajhi, who had led the previous day, lost time after getting stuck at kilometer 83, affecting his title hopes.
Mattias Ekström and Nasser Al Attiyah also faced setbacks, trailing the leader by 26 and 30 minutes, respectively. Both will have a tough task ahead in the final stages to close the gap.
Results in Other Categories
Challenger Class: Saudi Arabia's Dania Akeel excelled, winning the stage and securing a spot among the top three times of the day.
SSV: Francisco "Chaleco" López achieved his fifth victory in this edition, narrowing the gap with Xavier de Soultrait.
Trucks: Ales Loprais claimed his fourth stage victory, though Martin Macík maintained a lead of over two hours in the overall standings.
Outlook for the Finale
With two stages remaining, the fight for the title remains open. Henk Lategan aims to become the first South African to win the Dakar Rally, while Yazeed Al Rajhi will try to use his experience to close the gap.
General Classification After Stage 10
| Pos. | No. | Driver-Co-driver | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 211 | (RSA) HENK LATEGAN (RSA) BRETT CUMMINGS |
TOYOTA GAZOO RACING | 47h 29' 57'' | |
| 2 | 201 | (KSA) YAZEED AL RAJHI (GER) TIMO GOTTSCHALK |
OVERDRIVE RACING | 47h 32' 24'' | + 00h 02' 27'' |
| 3 | 226 | (SWE) MATTIAS EKSTRÖM (SWE) EMIL BERGKVIST |
FORD M-SPORT | 47h 56' 43'' | + 00h 26' 46'' |
| 4 | 200 | (QAT) NASSER AL-ATTIYAH (FRA) EDOUARD BOULANGER |
THE DACIA SANDRIDERS | 48h 00' 18'' | + 00h 30' 21'' |
| 5 | 228 | (USA) MITCHELL GUTHRIE (USA) KELLON WALCH |
FORD M-SPORT | 48h 24' 02'' | + 00h 54' 05'' |
| 6 | 209 | (FRA) MATHIEU SERRADORI (FRA) LOIC MINAUDIER |
CENTURY RACING FACTORY TEAM | 48h 31' 08'' | + 01h 01' 11'' |
| 7 | 216 | (ARG) JUAN CRUZ YACOPINI (ESP) DANIEL OLIVERAS |
OVERDRIVE RACING | 49h 03' 27'' | + 01h 33' 30'' |
| 8 | 204 | (USA) SETH QUINTERO (GER) DENNIS ZENZ |
TOYOTA GAZOO RACING | 49h 06' 42'' | + 01h 36' 45'' |
| 9 | 240 | (POR) JOAO FERREIRA (POR) FILIPE PALMEIRO |
X-RAID MINI JCW TEAM | 49h 38' 32'' | + 02h 08' 35'' |
| 10 | 214 | (RSA) BRIAN BARAGWANATH (RSA) LEONARD CREMER |
CENTURY RACING FACTORY TEAM | 49h 47' 03'' | + 02h 17' 06'' |
Henk Lategan holds on to first place after stage 8 of the Dakar
Challenging terrain and penalties mark the eighth stage of Dakar 2025
Guillaume de Mévius breaks Toyota's streak with a 1-2 for Mini X-Raid
Toyota loses ground on a decisive day
Dakar 2025: Narrow victory for Seth Quintero on stage 5
Changes in the classification of the Dakar 2025 after a penalty
