Ford fought back dramatically on Tuesday’s third stage of the Dakar Rally to wrest control from Toyota, with South Africans featuring prominently throughout the field as Dutch-South African Puck Klaassen made history in the T3 Challenger category.
American Mitch Guthrie and Kellon Walch led the Ford charge in their factory Raptor, finishing ahead of Czech duo Martin Prokop and Viktor Chytka’s privateer Ford. South African Guy Botterill delivered the drive of the day, rising from 21st position to claim third place overall in his Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux alongside Spanish co-driver Oriol Mena.
Botterill’s remarkable recovery highlighted a day of dramatic changes that saw seven Fords finish in the top eleven positions. The South African’s charge through the field proved one of the standout performances as he challenged the dominant American manufacturer.
Stellenbosch’s Puck Klaassen created her own slice of history by becoming just the fifth woman ever to win a Dakar stage. Racing with Argentine co-driver Augusto Sanz in the T3 Challenger category, Klaassen joined an exclusive club that includes Jutta Kleinschmidt, Cristina Gutiérrez, Sara Price, and Dania Akeel.
The overall standings now show five Fords occupying the top positions, with Guthrie leading privateer Prokop and fellow Americans Mattias Ekström, Carlos Sainz, and former winner Nani Roma. South African champion Saood Variawa and French co-driver François Cazalet sit 17th in their factory Toyota Gazoo Racing entry.
Motorcycles see Honda fight back
In the motorcycle category, Honda riders Tosha Schareina and Ricky Brabec delivered a memorable one-two finish to challenge KTM’s early dominance around the challenging Al’Ula terrain.
South African Michael Docherty maintained his perfect record in the Rally 2 category, extending his winning streak to four consecutive stage victories aboard his BAS KTM. The performance keeps Docherty firmly in control of his class as he continues to represent South Africa with distinction.
Durban’s Bradley Cox persevered aboard his Sherco motorcycle despite a difficult day for the French manufacturer, which saw multiple retirements including 2024 class winner Noah Harith and Spaniard Lorenzo Santolino.
Australian Daniel Sanders retained his overall motorcycle lead despite struggling whilst opening the road, with the 2025 Dakar winner maintaining his advantage over Honda duo Brabec and Schareina in the general classification.
Marathon stages ahead
Wednesday’s competition marks the first part of the opening Marathon stages, taking competitors deep into the desert’s no-service refuge bivouacs where teams will face additional logistical challenges without external assistance.
The dramatic shake-up in both car and motorcycle categories promises continued excitement as the rally ventures further into Saudi Arabia’s demanding terrain, with South African competitors well-positioned to continue their strong showing in the world’s most challenging motorsport event.
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