Daniel Sanders Regains Overall Lead at the Rallye du Maroc
In a thrilling turn of events during the fourth stage of the 2026 Rallye du Maroc, Daniel Sanders of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team not only clinched the stage victory but also reclaimed the overall lead in the competition. This stage set the stage for an intense showdown between Sanders and his teammate Edgar Canet as they vie for the championship title. The rally commenced from the bivouac in Zagora, which served as both the starting point and the finish line for this crucial segment of the race. With a special stage covering 321 km and an additional liaison of 132 km, stage four mirrored the length of the previous day, showcasing the breathtaking canyons and challenging terrains of the region that included technical, sandy passages, as well as dunes and rocky sections.
Starting off the stage was Luciano Benavides, also from Red Bull KTM, who had triumphed in the previous stage, followed by Tosha Schareina from Honda and Nacho Cornejo representing Hero, each starting at three-minute intervals. However, after approximately 180 km into the stage, Schareina managed to close the gap on Benavides, benefiting from the established bonus system. Despite this, the advantage given to the later starters did not counterbalance the time credit awarded for opening the route. Daniel Sanders, who began the stage in eighth place, exhibited remarkable speed, soaring over the varied terrain to finish in a record time of 3 hours, 14 minutes, and 31 seconds, which was an impressive nine minutes ahead of his closest competitor, Edgar Canet, who also rides for KTM. Adrien van Beveren of Honda rounded out the top three, finishing just over three minutes behind Sanders.
With this victory, Sanders not only secured the stage win but also regained the overall lead in the rally, now holding a 1 minute and 32 seconds advantage over Canet, who sits in second place. As the rally approaches its final stage, the anticipation builds for an exhilarating showdown between the two KTM riders, especially with third-place competitor Ricky Brabec from Honda trailing by a considerable eight minutes. In the fourth stage, Nacho Cornejo and Michael Docherty demonstrated a strong performance for Hero, finishing in fifth and sixth place respectively, and maintaining their spots in the overall standings at eighth and ninth.
As the competition intensifies, the final stage promises to be an exciting climax to the Rallye du Maroc, with all eyes on Sanders and Canet as they battle for victory.
As reported by speedweek.com.
