Watch daily extended highlights from the 2025 edition of the Dakar Rally each morning via our - plus a daily 15-minute mini recap and more from January 4 to January 18 (AEDT).
Sanders lost time as a result of the challenging tracks dictated by the early dunes but was able to recover and cross the line in seventh position, 6’44” behind stage winner and Red Bull KTM teammate Luciano Benavides.
The Australian did receive a one-minute time penalty for breaking the speed limit at one point, but remained pleased to get through the day with his GC advantage still intact - even if Honda’s Tosha Schareina reduced the margin to 11’03”.
“It was very, very tricky at the beginning and I lost a lot of time early on,” Sanders said.
“After that, I got into a really good rhythm and the navigation was easier but you had to be really switched on because we lost so much time at the beginning.
“It was really important to stay focused all day and push all the way to the end. It was a good finish, a strong finish compared to a bad start.”
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Dakar Rally 2025
series • motorsport
series • motorsport
Compatriot Toby Hederics continued his consistent form on the road to Riyadh, finishing 12th amongst the stage’s Rally 2 competitors.
Hederics was within reach of a top 10 finish for much of the day but would later rue an eight-minute time penalty that now leaves the Bas World KTM Racing rider ninth in the overall Rally 2 rankings.
As for brothers Peter and Christopher Schey, they had their best-ever day in the Classic Dakar, finishing 12th to leave them 15th overall with four stages remaining.
