P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Guillaume de Mévius and Mathieu Baumel took victory in Stage 1 of the 2026 Dakar Rally, less than a year after the latter lost his leg in a road accident.
Guillaume de Mévius and Mathieu Baumel claimed victory on the first full stage of the 2026 Dakar Rally, emerging as the fastest in a closely fought opening race in Saudi Arabia. The Belgian-French duo topped the timesheets around Yanbu in the Ultimate category, finishing 40 seconds ahead of Nasser Al-Attiyah with Martin Prokop taking third. This win held special significance as Baumel, a four-time Dakar-winning navigator, made his return to competitive racing after losing his right leg in a serious accident last year. Despite some live timing issues, De Mévius and Baumel secured the stage win, revealing their true pace only at the finish line. Al-Attiyah stayed close, trailing by 1 minute and 20 seconds, while Prokop’s consistent performance positioned him well in the overall standings. The Dakar rally also saw strong showings from Ford drivers and Sébastien Loeb, setting the stage for more challenging phases ahead.
