In a thrilling and unpredictable Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 7 Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Lucas Moraes edged Ford’s Mattias Ekstrom to claim victory as Henk Lategan lost his advantage in overall rankings.
The stage which featured a challenging 419-kilometer route that began and ended near Al Duwadimi was marked by adverse weather conditions, including unexpected rain, and navigational challenges caused by errors in the roadbook, leading to a day of chaos for many competitors.
Lucas Moraes alongside his co-driver Armand Monleon completed Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 7 in a remarkable time of 4h1m49s.
The impressive performance from the Toyota Gazoo Racing duo was crucial after a disappointing Stage 6 where they lost significant time due to mechanical issues. This victory marked Moraes’ second career stage win in the Dakar Rally following his 2024 Stage 3 win.
The Brazilian driver finished the stage a substantial 7m41s ahead of his nearest rival, M-Sport Ford’s Mattias Ekstrom whose performance was also noteworthy as he secured second place with a time that helped him close the gap on overall leader Henk Lategan.
The Swedish driver finished just behind Lucas Moraes and was instrumental in bringing M-Sport Ford its best results so far in Dakar Rally 2025. His teammate Mitch Guthrie Jr. also had a strong showing after finishing third for the day to reinforce Ford’s competitive edge in their first full entry into the Dakar.
However, Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 7 proved particularly challenging for Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings who had been leading the overall standings. The Toyota Gazoo duo struggled navigating through the course due to roadbook errors that left many drivers confused about checkpoint validations.
Lategan ultimately finished in 15th place for the stage which drastically reduced his lead over Overdrive’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi to just 21 seconds as the latter managed to maintain his position within striking distance by finishing sixth in Stage 7.
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The adverse weather conditions added another layer of complexity to Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 7. A sudden downpour created slippery and treacherous terrain that tested drivers’ skills and vehicle performance.
Many competitors struggled with traction as they maneuvered through muddy patches and loose sand.
This added another layer of difficulty for drivers who were already grappling with navigation issues caused by roadbook errors, forcing the event organizers to adjust participants’ finishing times where necessary.
Notably, Nasser Al-Attiyah from Dacia managed to recover from early setbacks during the stage to finish fourth overall, just over 11 minutes behind Lucas Moraes. Al-Attiyah had initially fallen significantly behind but benefited from the adjustments made by race officials.
Seth Quintero from Toyota Gazoo Racing also had a commendable performance despite suffering two punctures during the stage. He finished fifth overall and currently sits eighth in the overall standings.
Cristina Gutierrez from Dacia finished seventh on the day, showcasing her consistency throughout this year’s rally.
Daniel Sanders secures 4th stage win
In the motorcycle category, Daniel Sanders continued his impressive run by claiming his fifth stage win of this rally.
Starting Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 7 from ninth allowed Sanders to navigate more effectively through traffic and capitalize on opportunities as they arose. His KTM teammate Edgar Canet finished second in motorcycles, further solidifying KTM’s strong presence in this year’s event.
Tosha Schareina from Honda completed the top three for motorcycles, showcasing Honda’s competitiveness as they seek to challenge KTM’s dominance.
As competitors look forward to Stage 8 and beyond, they must navigate not only the physical challenges of the rally but also the psychological pressures that come with such a tightly contested event.
The dynamics have shifted considerably following Dakar Rally 2025 Stage 7, with Moraes’ victory injecting new excitement into Toyota’s campaign while putting Lategan’s leadership under scrutiny.
With only a narrow margin separating Lategan from Al Rajhi and Ekström, every remaining stage will be critical as teams push their limits in pursuit of glory at one of motorsport’s most demanding events.
