Dakar 2026 enters the final stretch with Portuguese drivers battling for top spots

The 2026 edition of the Dakar Rally is approaching its conclusion, and the overall balance is clearly positive for Portugal. Stage 11 once again confirmed the consistency and competitiveness of the Portuguese riders and drivers, with regular appearances among the best in several categories and very real chances of fighting for top positions.

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Automobiles

In the automobiles category, the spotlight once again falls on the duo João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro. Driving an official Toyota, the Portuguese pair secured fourth place on the stage between Al Henakiyah and Yanbu, over a 347-kilometre timed section, reinforcing their status as one of the most solid teams of this edition. This result allowed them to climb to 18th place overall, maintaining a competitive pace against the factory teams battling for the outright victory. At the front, Nasser Al-Attiyah retains the lead, although his advantage has been reduced to just over eight minutes, keeping everything open for the decisive days ahead.

Motorcycles

In the motorcycle category, Portugal continues to find reasons for pride. Martim Ventura once again delivered a high-level performance, finishing the stage inside the top 10 and missing out on victory in the Rally 2 category by just one second. The young rider is now the best-placed Portuguese competitor in the rally, sitting 12th overall and third in Rally 2, remaining firmly in the fight for the podium as the rally enters its final phase.

Trucks

In the trucks category, the Portuguese flag remains clearly visible at the front of the race. Paulo Fiúza, as navigator for Vaidotas Zala in an Iveco from Team de Rooy, continues to hold the lead in the overall classification. With two days still to go, the accumulated advantage puts the team in a strong position to challenge for victory in one of the most demanding stages of off-road motorsport in the world.

SSV

In the SSV category, João Monteiro and Nuno Morais have maintained impressive consistency. The Portuguese duo once again ran among the fastest, holding fifth place overall, in a performance marked by consistency and effective management of the challenging conditions of the Saudi desert.

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With Portuguese competitors fighting for top positions in automobiles, motorcycles, trucks and SSV, Dakar 2026 enters its final stretch with a historic scenario for Portugal. The penultimate stage, featuring 310 kilometres against the clock, could define much of what is still at stake, ahead of a shorter final stage that should confirm the winners if no unexpected incidents arise.

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Sources: Diário de Notícias, O Jogo, Notícias ao Minuto