The stage ending with first major dunes of this year’s Dakar Rally saw Martin Macik Jr., Frantisek Tomasek, and David Svanda securing a strong second-place finish. One of the longest stages of the rally, stretching 605 km, concluded after sunset and did not impact MM Technology’s overall lead—they still hold the top spot in the general classification.

Change of Terrain

The first half of Dakar was dominated by hard, rugged, and rocky terrain, but today, competitors finally faced extended sand sections. The ultimate challenge came in the form of the first high dunes, which the crews had to tackle in complete darkness.

“At the start of the stage, there was no point in pushing too hard—we weren’t taking unnecessary risks since we’ve got a solid lead. We were looking forward to hitting the big dunes, but we didn’t want to be driving through them at night. That’s the last thing you want, driving completely blind. It’s been a tough one today, so I’m happy with P2,” said Martin Macik Jr.

Benny Is Running Like Clockwork

Unlike the crew, the truck doesn’t need rest, and Benny had no reason to today. He handled the entire 605 km stage flawlessly, reaching the finish line without breaking a sweat.

“Benny is giving us nothing but joy. He was gliding over the terrain today, even though we didn’t exactly go easy on him in the second half. Now it’s just a matter of standard maintenance, shaking out the sand, and he’s good to go for tomorrow,” said mechanic David Svanda.

Splitting Routes

Tomorrow, Martin Macik Jr., Frantisek Tomasek, and David Svanda will tackle a 419 km stage, which will mark the first time this year that vehicle categories take separate routes. The truck division will face a mix of fast and technical sections and will also have to prepare for a climb into the mountains.