The intense two-day special stage delivered a nerve-wracking showdown for the win. After a night without assistance or proper bivouac facilities, Martin Macik Jr., Frantisek Tomasek, and David Svanda crossed the finish line first after 967 km. However, the road to victory was anything but easy. They also took the overall lead.

Neck-and-Neck Battle Right to the Finish

From the moment the route of 48h Chrono stage was unveiled for this year’s Dakar, it was clear that it would push both crews and their machines to the limit. However, what unfolded over the past two days exceeded all expectations. The winner of the previous stage began losing time early on, opening the door for the Czech crew led by Martin Macik Jr., Frantisek Tomasek, and David Svanda. Seizing the opportunity, they fought relentlessly for nearly whole 12 hours they spent on the road, refusing to back down in their pursuit of the top spot.

On the first day, they reached bivouac C, located 546 km into the stage, before continuing at full throttle on day two, ultimately securing the victory.

“This stage is almost impossible to put into words. So much happened! We got stuck in soft sand multiple times, changed all four wheels, hunted down waypoints, Benny’s windshield is cracked, and he’s taken a real beating… I still can’t believe we pulled it off. The guys in the cabin worked like crazy, and there’s no way we could have won without their effort,” reflected pilot Martin Macik Jr. on the gruelling two-day battle.

Brutal Navigation Over 967 km

The two days in the desert weren’t just physically punishing—they also tested the team’s skills to the extreme. A combination of tricky waypoints and ever-changing terrain, including treacherous sand dunes, gave navigator Frantisek Tomasek plenty to deal with:

“This stage easily took 10 years off my life. It was absolutely insane—brutally demanding. We missed a few waypoints, but luckily, we managed to track them down quickly. The battle for the top two positions was down to minutes, back and forth, again and again. Honestly, I lost count of how many times we traded places.”

The Mechanics Will Have Their Hands Full

If Benny—the team’s truck—was merely battered by branches after the first stage, he needs a pretty major overhaul after the 48h Chrono. The tough fight against both the terrain and rivals left him with a cracked windshield and plenty of wear and tear.

“The mechanics, me included, will have their hands full today. Benny got us through and held up like a champ, but he definitely needs some serious repairs. We couldn’t avoid a crack windshield, so we’ll get that sorted, patch him up, and then hit the next stage,” said mechanic David Svanda.