The seventh stage of the Dakar Rally in the truck category turned into a show of dominance by Mitchel van den Brink. In a long and varied special around Wadi Ad Dawasir, the Dutchman was the fastest, securing his third stage win of this edition. He significantly extended his lead in the overall standings and took a crucial step towards the decisive phase of the rally.
Control from the start
The stage kicked off at a high pace, with fast sandy tracks and dunes alternating rapidly. It quickly became clear that Van den Brink intended to take the initiative. In the early kilometres, the gap with Vaidotas Zala was minimal, but as the special progressed, the Eurol Rally Sport team leader gradually increased his advantage. Navigation proved challenging, but co-driver Bart van Heun kept a clear overview and avoided any time loss.
Zala loses ground, Macik drops back
Around the halfway point, Zala briefly disappeared from the timing screens due to a tracking issue. When his times reappeared, it became evident he had lost ground. Van den Brink held a firm lead and pulled away to a gap of over four minutes. Defending champion Martin Macik had another difficult day. He lost time early on and eventually finished with a considerable deficit, further dropping in the standings.
Stage results
After 483 demanding kilometres, Van den Brink crossed the finish line first, with a lead of five minutes and thirty-one seconds over Zala. Macik came in third, over twenty-one minutes behind. The top five was completed by Gert Huzink and Kay Huzink, both delivering solid performances once again. Ales Loprais finished outside the podium and lost more time to the overall leader.
Mitchel van den Brink looked back with great satisfaction. “What a day, really super happy.” Everything went according to plan, as he was able to immediately engage in battle with Macik and Kay Huzink. After following Zala for a while, they managed to pass him in the dust and pull away. “We made excellent progress in the standings, and what a beautiful stage it was.”
The second Eurol Rally Sport truck, driven by Martin van den Brink with Peter Willemsen and Richard Mouw, delivered a controlled performance and finished in the middle of the top ten. The crew stayed out of trouble and maintained their role as a support vehicle in Mitchel’s title campaign.
General classification
With his third stage win, Van den Brink increased his overall lead to thirty-eight minutes and thirty-three seconds over Zala. Macik drops to third, more than fifty minutes behind, while Loprais trails by over an hour. The Dutch are firmly represented at the top and continue to dictate the pace in the truck category.
Looking ahead to the next stage
Up next is Stage 8, a tough loop around Wadi Ad Dawasir. With a total distance of 721 kilometres and a demanding 483-kilometre special, it is the longest timed section of this Dakar. The route is a true showcase of Saudi Arabia, featuring fast starts, multiple dune belts, sandy valleys, and rocky sections towards the end. It will be a day where rhythm, navigatio,n and preserving the vehicle are crucial. With a solid lead, Van den Brink can afford to ride conservatively, but given his current form, it seems likely the Dutchman will be in the spotlight once again.
