STAGE 6: DAKHLA > CHAMI
PROVISIONAL RESULTS OF THE DAY
Motorbike: Gautier Paulin
Car: Tomas Ourednicek
SSV: Pierre Lafay
Truck: Gerrit Zuurmond
After Saturday’s rest day in Dakhla, which allowed both competitors and machines to recharge, the Africa Eco Race entered its second act today with the sixth stage linking Dakhla to Chami. This 590-kilometer stage, including a 153-kilometer selective sector, was characterized by a long liaison to the Mauritanian border before a highly anticipated change of country.
The special stage, contested entirely in Mauritania, plunged the competitors into vast sandy expanses, alternating between off-road sequences and open navigation. In these wide-open spaces where landmarks are scarce, parallel tracks often invited errors, making vigilance essential. Upon arrival, competitors described a stage that was both fast and tricky—a perfect illustration of this true entry into the second half of the Africa Eco Race.
Motorbike: First Victory for Paulin, Lepan Consolidates Lead
Gautier Paulin took the win in 1:11:23, clinching the very first stage victory of his career in the Africa Eco Race. He finished 2 min 28 s ahead of Alessandro Botturi, while Amaury Baratin—competing in the Xtreme Rider by Motul (unassisted) category—delivered a stellar performance by taking third place, 4 min 22 s back.
In the overall Motorbike standings, Jean-Loup Lepan solidifies his lead. He now holds a 1 min 48 s advantage over Thomas Marini, while Jacopo Cerutti completes the provisional podium at 2 min 46 s. The gaps remain tight after this first Mauritanian stage, suggesting an intense battle for the remainder of the event.
Car: Ourednicek Wins, Femont Closes In
In the Car category, Tomas Ourednicek won the special in 1:06:18 after a hard-fought day. He finished just 8 seconds ahead of Christian Femont, while David Gérard completed the podium, 1 min 44 s behind the winner.
In the overall Car standings, Pol Van Pollaert retains the lead. However, Christian Femont has narrowed the gap, moving to within 15 min 33 s of the leader. Philippe Lambilliotte holds provisional third place, nearly 29 minutes behind Van Pollaert.
SSV: Lafay Extends Lead, Suspense Remains High
In the SSV category, Pierre Lafay won the special in 1:12:43, ahead of Sander Derikx (1 min 50 s) and Martijn Van Den Broek (2 min 20 s).
In the overall SSV standings, Pierre Lafay strengthens his position as leader, increasing his lead to 10 min 29 s over William Grarre. Jérôme Cambier completes the provisional podium at 13 min 43 s. With the top three separated by less than 15 minutes, the race remains wide open, and the suspense is total for the rest of the rally.
Truck: Zuurmond Pulls Further Ahead
Gerrit Zuurmond secured another stage victory in 1:19:02, ahead of Mike Panhuijzen (13 min 32 s) and Franck Coquide (38 min 42 s).
Unsurprisingly, in the overall Truck standings, Gerrit Zuurmond further increases his lead, now sitting 9 hours and 41 minutes ahead of Mike Panhuijzen. Franck Coquide climbs to the third step of the provisional podium, more than 17 hours behind the leader.
Of note is the retirement of Noel Essers, who held second place in the provisional general standings at the end of stage four. The driver was forced to withdraw on Friday after his truck rolled over, resulting in a fractured collarbone.
This sixth stage fully marks the entry of the Africa Eco Race 2026 into Mauritania. After a gradual post-rest restart, competitors will now face more challenging terrain and increasingly demanding navigation for a second half of the rally that promises to be decisive.
