A mechanical collapse for Al Attiyah has dramatically reshaped the fight for overall victory.
Zagora
Henk Lategan and co driver Brett Cummings won the second stage of the Rally of Morocco after a demanding 300 kilometer timed section across rocky tracks, dried riverbeds, dunes and soft sand around Zagora. The South African completed the special in 3 hours, 28 minutes and 34 seconds, giving Toyota Gazoo Racing a major result in the penultimate round of the 2026 World Rally Raid Championship.
Lategan’s victory was built through consistency in terrain that repeatedly changed character. He moved into contention during the first half of the stage, briefly dropped behind in the closing kilometers and then recovered the lead before the finish. His performance lifted him from tenth overall after Stage One to second in the general classification.
The biggest turning point came from Nasser Al Attiyah. The Dacia driver appeared positioned to fight for the stage win before suffering a mechanical problem only a short distance from the finish. The setback cost him roughly 45 minutes and significantly damaged his chances of overall victory. Sébastien Loeb later assisted his teammate, allowing Al Attiyah to complete the stage.
Carlos Sainz was one of the main beneficiaries. Driving the Ford Raptor with Dani Oliveras, the Spaniard finished third on the stage, 1 minute and 12 seconds behind Lategan. That result moved Sainz to third overall and only 2 minutes and 43 seconds behind the rally leader, placing him firmly back in contention.
Lucas Moraes and Pablo Moreno now lead the overall classification for Dacia with a cumulative time of 6 hours, 11 minutes and 41 seconds. Lategan sits only 28 seconds behind, while Sainz follows closely in third. Mattias Ekström and Mathieu Serradori are also within striking distance, leaving the rally unusually compressed after more than 600 kilometers of timed competition.
The stage demonstrated why the Rally of Morocco remains one of the most demanding preparation events for the Dakar Rally. Speed alone is insufficient. Mechanical reliability, navigation, tire management and the ability to recover from unexpected setbacks can transform the classification within minutes.
Lategan won the day, but the larger story is how quickly the rally has reopened. With Moraes, Lategan and Sainz separated by less than three minutes, the fight for victory has become a contest of precision under pressure.
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