Dakar 2026: Mattias Ekstrom's Ford Dominates Prologue
The 2026 Dakar Rally kicked off with a bang as Mattias Ekstrom, a factory Ford driver, claimed the Prologue victory. With a V8-powered Ford Raptor, Ekstrom set the fastest time of the day, finishing in 10m48.7s, his third Prologue win in five attempts. This marks a strong start for Ford, with team-mate Mitch Guthrie finishing just eight seconds behind, securing a 1-2 finish for the American marque.
The Prologue, held in the Saudi Arabian port city of Yanbu, covered a 95km route, but only 22km were timed, resulting in minimal time gaps. Guillaume de Mevius, driving for X-raid and partnered by Mathieu Baumel, finished third, just two tenths behind Guthrie, establishing Mini as Ford's closest competitor. Nasser Al-Attiyah led Renault Group's Dacia brand in fourth, followed by Toyota drivers Seth Quintero and Yazeed Al-Rajhi in fifth and sixth, respectively.
Rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr. returned to Dakar, guiding his Ford to eighth place, 15 seconds behind Ekstrom. Matthieu Serradori ended ninth for the underdog Century marque, while Saood Variawa from Toyota South Africa rounded out the top 10. Nine-time World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb had a relatively low-key start, finishing 17th, more than half a minute off the top spot.
Despite the Prologue's limited impact on the overall classification, the top 10 drivers earned the right to choose their starting positions for Sunday's stage in Yanbu. Ford's dominance in the Prologue sets the stage for an exciting Dakar Rally, with Ekstrom and Guthrie leading the way for the American manufacturer.
Stay tuned for more updates as the rally unfolds, and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
