CRISTINA GUTIERREZ, LAIA SANZ & DANIA AKEEL Battle Rocky Dakar Stage 1

January 5, 2026

• CRISTINA GUTIERREZ fought through the razor-blade rocks of Dakar’s opening stage, finishing 15th overall despite tire punctures that sliced through the field. The Spanish driver and co-driver Pablo Moreno kept their Dacia within striking distance at just five minutes off the lead, proving they’re here to compete with the big boys in the Ultimate class where only the strongest survive.
• LAIA SANZ endured a brutal baptism on Stage 1, finishing 26th overall with a 16-minute deficit after the rocks claimed their pound of flesh from her Ebro. The veteran Spanish rider and co-driver Marco Gerini faced the same treacherous conditions that knocked out multiple contenders, but crossed the finish line ready to fight another day in this 14-stage war of attrition.
• DANIA AKEEL literally had her door ripped off during the 305km rock-strewn nightmare, yet still brought her Taurus T3 Max home 9th in Challenger class. The Saudi driver and French co-driver Sebastien Delaunay lost time to a puncture and battled dust clouds, but stayed within 10 minutes of the category leader – exactly where you want to be after surviving Dakar’s opening haymaker.

challenger class, dakar rally, t1+ ultimate, taurus