The fourth stage of the Dakar Rally delivered drama across the Saudi Arabian desert as Henk Lategan claimed victory in the car category and seized the overall lead, while defending champion Yazeed Al Rajhi made the difficult decision to withdraw from the event. The marathon stage from Al-‘Ula to the bivouac covered 451 kilometres for four-wheeled vehicles and 417 kilometres for motorcycles, with competitors facing the unique challenge of spending the night in tents without team support before tomorrow’s continuation.
Schareina and Brabec locked in motorcycle battle
Tosha Schareina claimed his first stage win of the 2026 edition, completing the special in 4 hours, 31 minutes and 56 seconds. The Honda rider’s performance moved him into a tie for the overall lead with teammate Ricky Brabec, with just six seconds separating the pair after Schareina closed the gap. The two Honda riders now share the top position, creating an intriguing intra-team rivalry as the rally progresses.
Skyler Howes and Ross Branch finished 10 and 16 seconds behind Schareina respectively, maintaining their positions in contention. Daniel Sanders, who had led the general classification, surrendered his advantage after navigation errors cost him two and a half minutes. The KTM rider’s mistakes proved costly in the unforgiving desert terrain, demonstrating how quickly fortunes can shift in rally-raid competition.
Challenger and SSV categories see mixed fortunes
Nicolás Cavigliasso dominated the T3 buggy Challenger class with a commanding performance. The category saw varied results for Dutch competitors, with Kees Koolen finishing as the sole Netherlands representative in the top ten, though nearly 45 minutes off the winning pace. His G Rally Team colleague Puck Klaassen, who made history by winning stage three, encountered mechanical difficulties when a broken wishbone relegated her to 23rd position. Paul Spierings also struggled, managing only 17th place in a challenging day for the Dutch contingent.
In the T4 SSV class, Brock Heger extended his advantage significantly, strengthening his grip on the category lead. Rally2 leader Michael Docherty had been dominating his division before disaster struck when a landing on a rock destroyed his wheel, forcing him out of contention.
Lategan capitalizes as rivals falter
The South African driver delivered a measured performance in his Toyota, avoiding the pitfalls that claimed several rivals. Lategan inherited the overall lead from Nasser Al Attiyah after the Dacia driver suffered a puncture in the closing stages, highlighting the fragility of any advantage in this grueling competition. The stage win positions Lategan favourably heading into the second half of the marathon stage, where mechanical reliability becomes paramount without team assistance overnight.
The Goczał family enjoyed a remarkable collective performance with Marek finishing third, Eryk fourth, and Michał sixth. Nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb slotted into fifth, demonstrating consistent pace. Ford drivers Mitch Guthrie and Martin Prokop, who had occupied the top two positions after stage three, both lost approximately 45 minutes to navigation errors that dropped them down the order.
Defending champion’s withdrawal and truck category shake-up
Yazeed Al Rajhi’s decision to withdraw after persistent punctures carries particular weight given his injuries from a crash several months ago that left him with fractured vertebrae. The Saudi driver, who won the 2025 edition, chose not to risk further damage to his recovering back despite beginning the rally as the reigning champion. His withdrawal removes a significant threat from the competition but underscores the physical demands placed on competitors.
Martin Macík produced the standout performance in the truck category, finishing 12 minutes and 49 seconds faster than any rival. The Czech driver’s dominant display allowed him to seize the overall truck lead from Mitchel van den Brink, who nevertheless secured second place on the stage. Vaidotas Žala, with Dutch mechanic Max van Grol navigating, claimed third ahead of Martin Šoltýs and Aleš Loprais.
Dutch representation in the trucks remained strong with Kees Huizink, Martin van den Brink and Richard de Groot all finishing inside the top ten. However, William de Groot became another withdrawal after a heavy landing during stage three convinced him to abandon the rally.
What this means going forward
The marathon stage format creates strategic complexity as teams cannot service vehicles overnight, meaning any mechanical issues must wait until after tomorrow’s stage concludes. Lategan’s clean run through stage four positions him well, but the Toyota must survive another full stage without support. The tied motorcycle battle between Schareina and Brabec promises intense competition, while Sanders faces the challenge of recovering lost ground without making further costly errors. With the defending champion out and several favourites already losing significant time, the 2026 Dakar remains wide open across all categories as competitors prepare for stage five from the bivouac.
