RIYADH: Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah moved into the provisional overall lead of the 2026 Dakar Rally on Monday, capitalising on a consistent performance in the second stage of the gruelling event being held in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Attiyah clocked a total time of 7 hours, 12 minutes and 16 seconds after finishing eighth on the 400-kilometre Yanbu–Al Ula stage, edging American stage winner Seth Quintero by seven seconds in the overall standings. Belgian Guillaume de Mevius sits third, with South African Henk Lategan and France’s Sébastien Loeb completing the top five.
Quintero claimed stage honours with a time of 3 hours, 57 minutes and 16 seconds, finishing ahead of Lategan and Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi. The rally continues on Tuesday with the third stage around Al Ula, covering a total distance of 422 kilometres as the battle at the top remains tightly contested.
