In a thrilling finale at the Rally of Morocco 2026, Edgar Canet demonstrated remarkable skill and determination as he surged ahead to claim victory, becoming the youngest winner in the history of the World Rally-Raid Championship. Starting the final stage three minutes behind the current championship leader, Canet faced a daunting task of recovering a deficit of roughly one and a half minutes. The odds were steep, but sometimes, the impossible becomes achievable, as was evident on this day.
By the 60-kilometer mark, Canet had physically caught up with Daniel Sanders, marking a pivotal shift in the rally's dynamics. The Australian, who had the burden of opening the track after his win on Friday, made a navigation error around the 55-kilometer point. Seizing this opportunity, Canet quickly regained the three minutes that had separated them at the start and transformed from a pursuer into the virtual leader of the rally.
With a significant lead established, Canet needed only to maintain his position and avoid mistakes, which he successfully accomplished. After five days of consistent top-four finishes, the rider from La Garriga crossed the finish line in Zagora as the champion of the Rally of Morocco 2026. This victory marks his first overall win in RallyGP, and at just 21 years, 6 months, and 18 days old, Canet etched his name into the record books as the youngest champion in the World Rally-Raid Championship's history.
Having left Morocco just a year ago as the Rally2 champion, Canet's return to the event was nothing short of triumphant as he now competes against the elite. The race began in stark contrast, with Sanders outpacing Canet at the first checkpoint, located at the 30-kilometer mark, and extending his virtual lead to nearly two minutes thanks to bonuses for opening the track. This was precisely the scenario Sanders had hoped for, yet navigating the course while leading comes at a cost.
Approximately 25 kilometers later, Sanders faced navigation challenges that led him to lose a significant amount of time. By the time they reached the 60-kilometer control, Canet had turned the tables, moving from 1:26 behind to the virtual leader of the race. Shortly thereafter, he physically overtook Sanders, who was left without the bonuses needed to regain lost ground, simplifying the race's narrative into a straightforward competition: Canet ahead, Sanders trailing, with nearly 200 kilometers still to cover.
Despite the pressure, Sanders, a three-stage winner throughout the week and the championship leader upon arriving in Morocco, responded as expected. However, Canet's composure and strategic approach became apparent as he refused to be swayed by the unfolding situation. He didn't need to win the stage or prove anything further; his focus remained on keeping Sanders under control.
For a significant portion of the special stage, both riders traveled closely together. By the 131-kilometer mark, with bonuses accounted for, Canet had a virtual lead of over a minute. As they approached the 167-kilometer mark, they remained side by side, indicating that the race was beginning to solidify in Canet's favor. Following a 70-kilometer neutralization, only 23 kilometers remained against the clock. Sanders made a final push in the last sprint, but by then, Canet was fully aware of the situation at hand. He chose not to take unnecessary risks and expertly guided his KTM to the bivouac.
In the last stage, Canet finished fourth, clocking in at 3:11 behind Ricky Brabec, who secured the stage victory with a time of 1h52:15, finishing ahead of Luciano Benavides and Tosha Schareina. Sanders, unfortunately, could only manage a fifth-place finish, trailing by 5:39. When the final times were tallied, the only result that mattered was at the top: Edgar Canet emerged as the champion of the Rally of Morocco, completing the event in 15h41:55, defeating Sanders by a mere 1:02.
This victory not only marks Canet's first win in the RallyGP category during his debut season at the top level but also ties Spain with France for the most victories in this event, each boasting seven wins. With this title, Canet became the 17th different rider to inscribe his name in the motorcycle roster of the Rally of Morocco.
As the Rally of Morocco concluded, Sanders may have left without the victory he sought, but his second-place finish fortified his lead in the World Championship standings, as he now has 87 points, followed by Luciano Benavides with 74 and Tosha Schareina close behind at 73. The championship remains competitive as the season progresses.
As reported by es.motorsport.com.
