Dakar Rally 2025: Stage 7 – High-Octane Action Across Saudi Arabia’s Rugged Terrain
The 2025 Dakar Rally continued its epic saga with Stage 7, a grueling 473-kilometer test that spanned the unforgiving terrain near Al Dawadmi in Saudi Arabia. With a mix of sandy dunes, rocky landscapes, and technical navigation, this stage showcased the endurance, resilience, and strategy required to conquer the world’s toughest rally. As the rally progresses deeper into Saudi Arabia, the fight for dominance across all categories intensifies.
READ MORE: Nasser Al-Attiyah: The Icon The Sandrider and the Legend of Dakar
Cars Category: Navigation Chaos Shakes Dakar Stage 7 as Moraes Triumphs
The car category experienced significant upheaval due to a roadbook error that led to navigation challenges for many drivers. Organizers neutralized a 20-kilometer section to address the confusion. Brazilian driver Lucas Moraes capitalized on the situation, claiming the stage victory with a time of 4 hours, 1 minute, and 49 seconds. Swedish driver Mattias Ekström finished second, 7 minutes and 41 seconds behind Moraes, while American driver Mitchell Guthrie secured third place, 9 minutes and 28 seconds off the lead. Overall leader Henk Lategan faced difficulties, finishing 15th in the stage, which reduced his lead to a mere 21 seconds over Saudi driver Yazeed Al Rajhi. Ekström remains a strong contender in third place overall, 10 minutes and 25 seconds behind Lategan.
The stage was further complicated by unexpected rainfall, adding to the challenges faced by competitors. As the rally progresses, participants anticipate more demanding stages, particularly in the dunes, which could be decisive in the overall standings.
Top 5 General Classification – Cars
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Variation | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henk Lategan | Toyota Gazoo Racing | 37H 13’08” | — | 00H 04’00” |
| 2 | Yazeed Al-Rajhi | Overdrive Racing | 37H 13’29” | +00H 00’21” | 00H 04’00” |
| 3 | Mattias Ekström | Ford M-Sport | 37H 23’33” | +00H 10’25” | — |
| 4 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | The Dacia Sandriders | 37H 35’05” | +00H 21’57” | 00H 16’00” |
| 5 | Mitchell Guthrie | Ford M-Sport | 37H 53’09” | +00H 40’01” | 00H 09’00” |
Bikes Category: Sanders’ Consistent Domination
Daniel Sanders of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing extended his lead in the Bikes category, delivering another stellar performance in Stage 7. Sanders’ technical finesse and endurance were on full display as he tackled the challenging Saudi terrain, maintaining his position as the category leader. His KTM bike’s reliability, coupled with Sanders’ ability to read the terrain, gave him a significant edge over his rivals.
Edgar Canet, also riding for Red Bull KTM, was impressive with his second-place finish. Whilte Tosha Schareina, representing Honda, secured third place, showcasing his consistency and ability to adapt to the varying conditions.
Top 5 General Classification – Bikes
| Position | Rider | Manufacturer | Time | Variation | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Sanders | Red Bull KTM Factory | 39H 29’22” | — | — |
| 2 | Tosha Schareina | Monster Energy Honda | 39H 44’55” | +00H 15’33” | — |
| 3 | Adrien Van Beveren | Monster Energy Honda | 39H 55’29” | +00H 26’07” | 00H 02’00” |
| 4 | Ricky Brabec | Monster Energy Honda | 40H 02’41” | +00H 33’19” | — |
| 5 | Luciano Benavides | Red Bull KTM Factory | 40H 06’54” | +00H 37’32” | 00H 02’00” |
Quads Category: Marcelo Medeiros’ Tactical Supremacy
Marcelo Medeiros once again proved his dominance in the Quads category, delivering a commanding performance to extend his overall lead. Riding his Yamaha, Medeiros showcased unmatched skill in managing the tricky terrain, further solidifying his position as the favorite to take home the title.
Top 5 General Classification – Quads
| Position | Rider | Team | Time | Variation | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcelo Medeiros | Yamaha Racing | 40H 29’20” | — | — |
| 2 | Manuel Andujar | Yamaha Racing | 41H 00’55” | +00H 31’35” | — |
| 3 | Alexandre Giroud | Yamaha Racing | 41H 22’01” | +00H 52’41” | — |
| 4 | Pablo Copetti | Yamaha Racing | 41H 49’45” | +01H 20’25” | — |
| 5 | Francisco Moreno | Yamaha Racing | 42H 10’30” | +01H 41’10” | — |
SSV Category: Ferioli ’s Strategic Brilliance
Stage 7 of the 2025 Dakar Rally brought significant developments in the SSV category. Argentinian driver Jeremías González Ferioli secured his first stage victory of this year’s rally, completing the special stage in 4 hours, 34 minutes, and 50 seconds.
American driver Brock Heger finished closely behind, just 51 seconds adrift, maintaining his lead in the overall standings. Chilean driver Francisco “Chaleco” López Contardo, a seasoned Dakar competitor, secured the third position in the stage, 9 minutes and 28 seconds behind Ferioli.
In the general classification, Heger continues to lead with a cumulative time of 41 hours, 56 minutes, and 42 seconds. Frenchman Xavier de Soultrait holds the second position, trailing by 1 hour, 35 minutes, and 54 seconds. López Contardo remains in third place, 1 hour, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds behind the leader.
Top 5 General Classification – SSV
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Variation | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brock Heger | Sebastien Loeb Racing | 41H 56’42” | — | 00H 18’00” |
| 2 | Xavier De Soultrait | Sebastien Loeb Racing | 43H 32’36” | +01H 35’54” | 00H 03’00” |
| 3 | Francisco Contardo | Can-Am Factory | 43H 52’46” | +01H 56’04” | 00H 16’20” |
| 4 | Alexandre Pinto | Old Friends Rally Team | 44H 36’11” | +02H 39’29” | 00H 15’10” |
| 5 | Jerome De Sadeleer | MMP | 46H 35’31” | +04H 38’49” | 00H 03’00” |
Trucks Category: Macik Maintains Dominance
Stage 7 of the 2025 Dakar Rally witnessed a fierce contest in the truck category, with Czech driver Aleš Loprais clinching his second stage victory of the event. Loprais completed the special stage in 4 hours, 33 minutes, and 31 seconds, narrowing the gap to the overall leaders.
Lithuanian driver Vaidotas Žala secured the second position, finishing 9 minutes and 34 seconds behind Loprais. Czech driver Martin Macík, another strong contender in the truck category, took third place, 10 minutes and 26 seconds adrift.
In the general classification, Martin Macík maintains his lead with a cumulative time of 41 hours, 19 minutes, and 5 seconds. Mitchel van den Brink holds the second spot, trailing by 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 2 seconds. Aleš Loprais’s stage win has propelled him to third place overall, 2 hours, 30 minutes, and 47 seconds behind Macík.
Top 5 General Classification – Trucks
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Variation | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Macik | MM Technology | 41H 19’05” | — | 00H 02’00” |
| 2 | Mitchell van den Brink | Eurol Rally Sport | 43H 27’07” | +02H 08’02” | — |
| 3 | Ales Loprais | Loprais Team | 43H 49’52” | +02H 30’47” | — |
| 4 | Martin Soltys | Tatra Buggyra Racing | 46H 03’00” | +04H 43’55” | 00H 06’40” |
| 5 | Kees Koolen | MM Technology | 46H 16’51” | +04H 57’46” | 00H 06’20” |
Stage 7 of the 2025 Dakar Rally has reshaped the dynamics across all categories, further intensifying the race for the coveted title. As competitors prepare for Stage 8, the battle for supremacy promises to reach new heights.
