Following a delayed start, Martin Macik Jr., Frantisek Tomasek, and David Svanda tackled uncharted dunes with their black-and-white racing truck, affectionately called “Benny.” Despite trucks leading the stage through untouched terrain, the team navigated flawlessly, clinching first place. They remain atop the overall standings, maintaining a commanding lead of more than two hours.

From Truck to Desert Cruiser

High dunes are a challenge for every driver, and the difficulty is amplified when the truck class faces virgin terrain, devoid of any tracks from preceding vehicles. Precision and patience become paramount as crews carefully chart their own course.

“We all loved the dunes today—though I probably enjoyed them the most. We pushed through, blazed our own trail, and Frantisek nailed the navigation. We only had to dig ourselves out once, thanks to a little help from Mitchel van den Brink. We stuck with him to the finish, so a big thanks to him,” said pilot Martin Macik Jr., reflecting on the day’s achievements.

Perfect Navigation: A Must in the Dunes

Approaching dunes incorrectly can leave you stranded for long stretches, making a skilled navigator more essential than ever. Today, Frantisek Tomasek proved invaluable to the crew.

“It was quite challenging because all you see ahead is sand. The first two trucks took a route I didn’t trust, so we chose a different path—and it turned out to be the right call. We slid once, but otherwise, it was clean driving. Martin was absolutely stellar behind the wheel today,” noted navigator Frantisek Tomasek.

Final Push Through the Desert

The time in the dunes is drawing to a close, with just one stage left in the Dakar Rally. The final stretch will be short and fast, ending at the bivouac. Fans can look forward to a great run and plenty of emotions as the rally reaches its conclusion.