Stage 12 of the 2026 Dakar Rally delivered one final test before the run to the finish, with high speeds, rough terrain and mechanical attrition once again shaping the outcome of the day.
For TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa, it was a case of endurance and persistence, as all three GR Hilux crews battled through significant challenges to keep their Dakar campaigns alive heading into the final stage back to Yanbu.
Saood Variawa (213) and François Cazalet endured a difficult day from the outset. An early puncture was followed by a broken CV joint, forcing an on-stage driveshaft change, before another puncture struck later in the stage. Despite the setbacks, the pair reached the finish and continue to hold 11th overall.
“Today was quite horrible. We had a puncture within about 60 kilometres, then a broken CV, so we had to change the driveshaft halfway through the stage. After that we had another puncture closer to the end. Overall, it was just a very tough day for me,” said Variawa.
Guy Botterill (218) and Oriol Mena were on course for another strong result, running inside the top six late into the stage. However, a small deviation from the route in the final kilometres resulted in contact with a rock, forcing another driveshaft change before they could continue. They ultimately completed Stage 12 in 47th and sit 14th overall.
“All the way to the end we were going really well, around fifth or sixth. The car felt amazing. Then with about 15 kilometres to go we deviated slightly and hit a rock on the other side of a dune. We had to change the driveshaft, but these cars are very strong and we made it through. We get to fight another day,” said Botterill.
For João Ferreira (240) and Filipe Palmeiro, Stage 12 was another exercise in damage limitation. Two early punctures left them without spare tyres for much of the stage, forcing a heavily reduced pace to ensure they reached the finish and remain classified.
“It was a very tough day. Two early punctures again, and then we had to do around 200 kilometres without spare tyres. We drove at about 20 to 30 percent just to make sure we arrived. We lost a lot of time, but arriving was the most important thing,” said Ferreira.
With twelve stages complete, attention now turns to the final test of Dakar 2026. Stage 13 will see the crews tackle a loop around Yanbu, with a 105-kilometre selective section made up largely of fast dirt tracks, interspersed with sandy sections and some stony terrain. While relatively short by Dakar standards, the final stage is expected to be intense, with limited margins and little room for error as competitors make the last push to the finish line.
The rally will draw to a close on Saturday, 17 January, after 13 demanding stages that once again underlined why Dakar remains the ultimate test of man and machine.
DAKAR RALLY 2026 – STAGE 12 RESULTS
| 1. | #299 | N. AL-ATTIYAH / F. LURQUIN | THE DACIA SANDRIDERS | 3HOUR 21MIN 52SEC |
| 2. | #228 | M. GUTHRIE / K. WALCH | FORD RACING | +01:04 |
| 3. | #204 | T. PRICE / A. MONLEON | TOYOTA GAZOO RACING W2RC | +01:25 |
| 4. | #266 | M. EKSTRÖM / E. BERGVIST | FORD RACING | +01:49 |
| 5. | #205 | E. GOCZAL / S. GOSPODARCZYK | ENERGYLANDIA RALLY TEAM | +03:55 |
| 6. | #209 | M. GOCZAL / D. ORTEGA | ENERGYLANDIA RALLY TEAM | +05:03 |
| 7. | #219 | S. LOEB / E. BOULANGER | THE DACIA SANDRIDERS | +05:13 |
| 8. | #227 | N. ROMA / A. HARO | FORD RACING | +07:22 |
| 9. | #202 | H. LATEGAN / B. CUMMINGS | TOYOTA GAZOO RACING W2RC | +07:33 |
| 10. | #225 | C. SAINZ / L. CRUZ | FORD RACING | +07:45 |
| 19. | #240 | J. FERREIRA / F. PALMEIRO | TOYOTA GAZOO RACING SA | +22:33 |
| 27. | #213 | S. VARIAWA / F. CAZALET | TOYOTA GAZOO RACING SA | +27:05 |
| 47. | #218 | G. BOTTERILL / O.MENA | TOYOTA GAZOO RACING SA | +39:01 |
DAKAR RALLY 2026 – STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 12
| 1. | #299 | N. AL-ATTIYAH / F. LURQUIN | THE DACIA SANDRIDERS | 48HOUR 01MIN 51SEC |
| 2. | #227 | N. ROMA / A. HARO | FORD RACING | +16:02 |
| 3. | #266 | M. EKSTRÖM / E. BERGVIST | FORD RACING | +23:21 |
| 4. | #219 | S. LOEB / E. BOULANGER | THE DACIA SANDRIDERS | +23:50 |
| 5. | #225 | C. SAINZ / L. CRUZ | FORD RACING | +36:33 |
| 6. | #214 | M. SERRADORI / L. MINAUDIER | CENTURY RACING FACTORY TEAM | +53:17 |
| 7. | #223 | L. MORAES / D. ZENZ | THE DACIA SANDRIDERS | +53:35 |
| 8. | #204 | T. PRICE / A. MONLEON | TOYOTA GAZOO RACING W2RC | +58:24 |
| 9. | #203 | S. QUINTERO / A. SHORT | TOYOTA GAZOO RACING W2RC | +01:19:10 |
| 10. | #228 | M. GUTHRIE / K. WALCH | FORD RACING | +01:27:27 |
| 11. | #213 | S. VARIAWA / F. CAZALET | TOYOTA GAZOO RACING SA | +01:31:01 |
| 14. | #218 | G. BOTTERILL / O.MENA | TOYOTA GAZOO RACING SA | +01:46:44 |
| 19. | #240 | J. FERREIRA / F. PALMEIRO | TOYOTA GAZOO RACING SA | +03:25:43 |
Motorsport South Africa (MSA) publishes media releases from a variety of sources on its website as a service to the sport. Due to the volume of content, it is not feasible to review or approve every release prior to publication. Some news items and articles are written by independent correspondents and may not necessarily reflect the official views or positions of MSA