The Rally of Morocco has unfolded with a remarkable twist, as Spain emerges triumphant with both Carlos Sainz leading the car category and Edgar Canet at the helm in motorcycles after the third stage. This unprecedented scenario marks the first time in the history of the Rally-Raid World Championship that two Spanish competitors have simultaneously occupied the top positions in the FIA and FIM standings. The paths to their respective leaderships, however, could not be more different.
Sainz, who has yet to secure a stage victory, has relied on consistency as his strongest asset, skillfully navigating through the challenges while his competitors falter. Canet, at just 21 years of age, showcased his prowess by competing alongside some of the world's best riders over nearly 360 kilometers, even overcoming a fall to snatch the lead from Daniel Sanders and Ricky Brabec. With two stages remaining, Spain stands at the forefront of the Moroccan rally.
The Rally of Morocco has highlighted a key principle: it's not merely about speed, but rather about finishing strong. Carlos Sainz and co-driver Dani Oliveras have executed their strategy with precision. After finishing third on Wednesday, Sainz made significant strides, recovering lost time from a five-minute penalty incurred on the first day. The Ford Raptor maintained a steady pace through the 360-kilometer stage around Zagora, which featured fast tracks, sandy paths, and the daunting Merzouga dunes, proving to be invaluable in this competitive rally.
On the other hand, Dacia endured yet another day to forget. Sébastien Loeb's misfortunes on the first day left him without options, followed by Nasser Al-Attiyah, who lost nearly 45 minutes on Wednesday when he was on the verge of winning the stage. On Thursday, it was Lucas Moraes' turn; starting off as the leader and performing exceptionally well, he was on track to increase his lead over Sainz until disaster struck just a few kilometers from the finish line. An accident immobilized his Dacia, allowing Sainz to seize the opportunity.
Loeb managed to have a clean day, utilizing his advantageous start position to set a pace unmatched by others, ultimately achieving his 25th stage victory in the W2RC, finishing 6:50 ahead of Sainz and 7:44 ahead of Seth Quintero. Nevertheless, while Loeb celebrated his stage win, Sainz secured something more substantial, finishing second and taking the overall lead in the Rally of Morocco with a 3:20 advantage over Quintero. This marks the first time Sainz has led a W2RC event since winning the Dakar 2024 and his first since joining Ford's project.
Sainz's strategy has been characterized by unwavering patience as he consistently capitalized on the misfortunes of others. For Ford, the day was a resounding success, not only with Sainz leading but also with Nani Roma and Álex Haro climbing to third place overall, just 6:18 behind their teammate. Roma finished fifth in the stage, re-entering the podium contention while fending off challenges from Toyota's João Ferreira, who is only 1:44 behind, and Henk Lategan, trailing by 2:22.
Meanwhile, Cristina Gutiérrez delivered a standout performance, guiding her Santana to ninth place in the stage and elevating her to 11th overall, a commendable feat considering this is her first world championship event with the new Santana project alongside co-driver Marc Solà.
On the motorcycle side, Edgar Canet's journey was filled with adrenaline. Starting after Daniel Sanders, who had won the previous stage, Canet faced the challenge of navigating against time. Sanders made a significant navigation error early on, allowing Canet to close the gap and ultimately take the lead. Even after a fall while temporarily leading the stage, Canet persevered and joined Sanders and Brabec at the front. Despite the intense competition from riders with better starting positions, Luciano Benavides capitalized on his advantage to win the stage, marking his 20th victory in the W2RC.
Canet, however, focused on maintaining his position rather than winning, finishing fourth and, after penalties were applied, found himself leading the Rally of Morocco. At just 21 years old and competing in his first full season in RallyGP, Canet's remarkable journey has seen him rise from a contender in Rally2 last year to now leading the elite category.
The overall standings are incredibly tight, with four riders separated by less than three minutes and two stages still to be contested. Following two challenging days, Tosha Schareina made a commendable comeback, finishing second in the stage and reflecting signs of his previous form, although he remains sixth overall with an 18:45 deficit.
As the rally heads into its longest stage yet, covering 384 kilometers, the dynamics may shift as cars and motorcycles will take different routes for much of the day, increasing the stakes for those leading the pack. Canet will start fourth in the motorcycle category, while Sainz must continue to navigate carefully as competitors chase him. With two stages left and hundreds of kilometers of desert remaining, the Rally of Morocco promises to deliver even more excitement.
As reported by es.motorsport.com.
