Stage seven of the Africa Eco Race 2026 will be remembered by many as a turning point. The special between Chami and Aït Aidzidine, stretching 462 kilometers, was the longest fully timed stage of this edition. From start to finish, competitors faced typical Mauritanian terrain: sand, camel grass, treacherous off-track routes, and relentless sandstorms that severely reduced visibility right from the outset.
Temperatures soared, the terrain was punishing, and even the best navigators were tested. It was a day where physical endurance and mental resilience mattered more than raw speed.
Gallas takes stage win and overall lead
Kevin Gallas (Yamaha) claimed another stage victory with a time of 5:53:58. Fellow German Mike Wiedemann followed just 18 seconds behind, rounding out a strong day for Germany. Thomas Marini finished third, 7 minutes and 49 seconds adrift.
With this result, Gallas moves into the overall lead, now holding a six-minute advantage over Marini. Jean-Loup Lepan lost nearly an hour due to a navigation error and dropped to third place in the standings, 9 minutes and 40 seconds behind.
Jean-Loup Lepan reflected: “Today I went over 25 kilometers off course. We thought we were on the right track but were completely wrong. Cerutti and Marini made the same mistake. Eventually, Gallas found the correct route and that proved decisive.”
Robert van Pelt Junior was once again the fastest Dutch rider, securing an impressive seventh place with a time of 6:27:54, finishing amongst big names. Just behind him came Nicolas Charlier, Alessandro Botturi, and Max Bianucci, all within a few minutes of each other.
It was a rough day for Baratin and Cerutti. Cerutti got lost and ran out of fuel, while Baratin crashed early, damaged his navigation equipment, had suspension and tire issues, and even faced a small engine fire.
Van Pollaert unstoppable, Gérard and Housset follow
In the car category, Pol Van Pollaert (MD Optimus) once again posted the fastest time: 5:24:25. David Gérard was second, 11 minutes behind, and Guy Housset took third, trailing by more than 36 minutes.
Van Pollaert continues to strengthen his position in the general classification. Christian Femont lost time but holds on to second overall, now 25 minutes back. Lambilliotte, Vroninks, and Zajac all remained within one hour of the lead. Earlier stage winner Delencre suffered heavy time loss and only reached the bivouac after more than eight hours.
Lafay extends lead, Van den Broek shines
Pierre Lafay dominated the SSV category in his Can-Am Maverick R with a time of 5:31:46. Martijn van den Broek finished second, 19 minutes behind, marking his best performance to date. Martin Benko took third, followed by Sander Derikx in fourth. Lafay extends his overall lead, with Grarre and Van den Broek still second and third. Van den Broek now trails by 59 minutes.
Bob Herber started strong but did not finish the stage. More details will follow once confirmed. Nicolas Davin also lost significant time but did reach the finish line.
Zuurmond once again leads alone
Gerrit Zuurmond brought his MAN truck to the finish as the only truck to complete the stage under its own power. He clocked a cautious 8:43:50, focusing on survival and safe arrival. Mike Panhuijzen and Martin Roeterdink were both assigned the maximum time of 11:30:00 and are still out on course.
Although Zuurmond received a 30-minute penalty, it does not affect his dominant position. Franck Coquide had a steady run but still lags far behind in the standings.
Robert van Pelt Senior out of the rally
In unfortunate news from the Van Pelt team, Robert van Pelt Senior was evacuated from the stage by ambulance and transported to the hospital for medical care. His son, who had already arrived at the bivouac, immediately withdrew from the race to be with his father. More details will be shared once available. We wish the entire family strength.
Exhausting day with many still out there
The brutal combination of heat, poor visibility, camel grass, and endless off-track terrain led to numerous breakdowns and delays. At the time of writing, several competitors are still on the course, stranded or lost in the Mauritanian desert.
This seventh stage confirms what veterans have said for years: the real rally begins in Mauritania. The coming days promise nothing less than a fight for survival on wheels.
The Africa Eco Race is broadcast daily on RTL7 at 12:30, 17:30, and 00:30. RallyTracks reports from the ground with special focus on the Dutch participants.
