The Dacia Sandriders remains on top in the W2RC after hard-fought Argentina Adventure

Sébastien Loeb and Édouard Boulanger fought back from several delays to complete the event's final stage today (Friday) with the second quickest time and secure fourth in the overall classification, as reigning world champion Lucas Moraes made it through a tough event in 21st position alongside navigator Dennis Zenz.

Fourth place for Loeb/Boulanger ensures they continue to lead the provisional Drivers' and Navigators' standings, albeit by a reduced three-point advantage ahead of team-mates Al-Attiyah/Lurquin with two rounds of the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) remaining.

Al-Attiyah and navigator Lurquin started Friday's deciding stage just seven seconds down on first place on the back of another strong performance, which included a day victory on Stage 2 and a second fastest time on Stage 4. But an enforced wheel change on Stage 5 ended Al-Attiyah/Lurquin's victory hopes in Argentina, where The Dacia Sandriders was competing for the first time.

Loeb/Boulanger, whose Desafío Ruta 40 challenge was hampered by multiple damaged tyres, were second quickest twice, finishing runner-up in the stage order on Wednesday and again today, despite another damaged tyre change.

Those additional stage points proved crucial to the French pair remaining in front of the W2RC title race after they moved up from fifth overnight to reach the finish in San Juan in fourth place following the final 340 timed kilometres.

Moraes/Zenz were playing catch up after earlier setbacks when a collision with a rival competitor led to their retirement on Stage 3 with damaged rear suspension. Restarting on Thursday, they reached the finish of Stage 5 sixth quickest.

While The Dacia Sandriders' unbroken run of W2RC victories is over following three consecutive W2RC wins on Rallye du Maroc last season and the Dakar Rally and Rally-Raid Portugal this season, Desafío Ruta 40 was a case of mission accomplished for the team with the goal of maintaining its lead at the top of the Drivers', Navigators' and Manufacturers' standings achieved.

After the traditional summer break, the 2026 W2RC season resumes in North Africa in late September for Rallye du Maroc, which The Dacia Sandriders won in 2024 – its championship debut – and again in 2025.

KEY QUOTES

TIPHANIE ISNARD, TEAM PRINCIPAL, THE DACIA SANDRIDERS

It was a solid performance with three Dacia Sandriders at the finish of the rally. For the first time here in Argentina with such a challenge, the altitude and rocky stages, we can be pleased with that. We've never been in this kind of terrain. It's really good to finish in these strong positions. Obviously, we all want to win but it was a victory for Toyota and we congratulate them and Seth Quintero for his first win, it was well done.

NASSER AL-ATTIYAH (QATAR), DRIVER, THE DACIA SANDRIDERS

We were fighting hard to the end, but we had a puncture and then we were stuck behind Seb with all the dust. We couldn't do anything, but this is motorsport and we finished third, which is good for the championship. We'll see for Morocco.

SÉBASTIEN LOEB (FRANCE), DRIVER, THE DACIA SANDRIDERS

The stage was very good, we pushed really hard all the stage. We had a puncture and had to change a wheel in the stage. But the rest was a really good battle, and I tried really hard, but not enough.

LUCAS MORAES (BRAZIL), DRIVER, THE DACIA SANDRIDERS

A very demanding rally here in Argentina but happy to finish. Today we played a little safe in the rocks at the beginning of the stage just to make sure we could finish the neutralisation with Seb and Nasser in case they needed some tyres. We did that and were basically in the dust for 90 kilometres and couldn't push at all. But we are here, we're still leading the Manufacturers' championship, which is really important, of course the Drivers' and Navigators' also, and we'll keep fighting now in Morocco.

FABIAN LURQUIN (BELGIUM), NAVIGATOR, THE DACIA SANDRIDERS

A complicated rally because there were many good competitors. We made a good rally and didn't make many mistakes. We had a good speed and even then we found some competitors in front of us, so it shows the level in this championship, which is good for the championship. Of course, we're a little sad not to be winning, but happy to be third. The guys in the front deserve it so congrats to them.

DESAFÍO RUTA 40 STAGE 5 RESULTS (UNOFFICIAL)

San Juan-San Juan

Stage distance: 340km Liaison distance: 233km Total distance: 573km

2 Sébastien Loeb (FRA)/Édouard Boulanger (FRA), 2h32m40s

5 Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Fabian Lurquin (BEL), 2h36m29s

6 Lucas Moraes (BRA)/Dennis Zenz (GER), 2h37m14s

DESAFÍO RUTA 40 ULTIMATE CATEGORY OVERALL RESULTS AFTER STAGE 5 (UNOFFICIAL)

3 Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Fabian Lurquin (BEL), +2m26s

4 Sébastien Loeb (FRA)/Édouard Boulanger (FRA), +3m54s

21 Lucas Moraes (BRA)/Dennis Zenz (GER), +20h32m56s

FIA WORLD RALLY-RAID CHAMPIONSHIP PROVISIONAL STANDINGS

Drivers after round 3 of 5: 1 Sébastien Loeb 114 points; 2 Nasser Al-Attiyah 111; 3 Seth Quintero 101; 4 Lucas Moraes 57; 5 Henk Lategan 56; 6 Mattias Ekström 53; etc.

Navigators after round 3 of 5: 1 Édouard Boulanger 114 points; 2 Fabian Lurquin 111; 3 Andrew Short 101; 4 Dennis Zenz 57; 5 Brett Cummings 56; 6 Emil Bergkvist 53; etc.

Manufacturers after round 3 of 5: 1 The Dacia Sandriders 315 points; 2 Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC 250; 3 Ford Racing 161; etc.

DESAFÍO RUTA 40: THE BIG NUMBER

4: A third-place Desafío Ruta 40 finish for Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin was the fourth FIA World Rally-Raid Championship podium for The Dacia Sandriders. The team had previously celebrated podiums on Rallye du Maroc in 2024 (Sébastien Loeb/Fabian Lurquin), the South African Safari Rally in 2025 (Loeb/Lurquin) and Rally-Raid Portugal in 2025 (Loeb/Boulanger).

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Dacia Sandriders heads next to Rallye du Maroc, where it made its FIA World Rally-Raid Championship debut in 2024, for the penultimate event of the season from September 28-October 3.

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