If you’ve been glued to the screens watching the sand fly in Saudi Arabia, you know that the winner of grand prix today isn't about a trophy on a podium—it's about surviving Stage 9 of the Dakar Rally. This is the "Grand Prix" of endurance. Honestly, today was one of those days that makes you realize why people call this the toughest race on earth. While we wait for the F1 season to kick off in a few months, the desert provided enough drama to last a lifetime.
Nani Roma is basically the man of the hour.
He didn't actually win the stage—that honor went to Eryk Goczal—but Roma and his co-driver Alex Haro are the ones wearing the metaphorical crown right now. By finishing eighth on a brutal 418km loop through the dunes of Wadi Ad Dawasir, they managed to leapfrog everyone to become the new overall leaders of the Dakar Rally. It’s a massive shake-up. You've got to feel for Nasser Al-Attiyah, who led for so long only to see his cushion evaporate in the heat.
The Drama at Wadi Ad Dawasir
The desert is a cruel place. One minute you're cruising, the next you're digging a Dacia Sandrider out of a ditch. Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin found that out the hard way. They started the day with a target on their backs and ended it in third place overall.
It’s wild how fast things change.
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The stage itself was a "marathon" style, meaning no service bivouac. If you break it, you fix it yourself or wait for a teammate. Eryk Goczal took the stage win, leading a Polish 1-2 with his brother Michal. But the real story is the Ford Racing team. They’ve been lurking in the shadows all week, and today they pounced.
Current Overall Standings (Post-Stage 9)
- Nani Roma (Ford): 1st Place
- Carlos Sainz (Ford): 2nd Place (only 57 seconds back!)
- Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia): 3rd Place (13 seconds behind Sainz)
- Henk Lategan (Toyota): 4th Place
Carlos Sainz—the legend himself—could have been the winner of grand prix today in terms of the overall lead, but a one-minute penalty cost him dearly. Think about that. Over 30 hours of racing across rocks and sand, and it comes down to a 60-second mistake. That’s the kind of pressure these guys live under.
Why the Goczal Brothers Stunned Everyone
Eryk Goczal is only 21. Let that sink in. Most people his age are figuring out how to change their own oil, and he's outrunning some of the greatest rally drivers in history. He and his brother Michal basically turned the desert into a family playground today.
They were fast. Like, really fast.
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They secured a podium lockout for the Toyota GR Hilux IMT Evo alongside Toby Price. Price, the two-wheel legend, proved he’s just as dangerous with a steering wheel by finishing third. It was a "clean sweep" for Toyota on the stage, even if the overall leaderboard tells a different story with Ford and Dacia fighting for the ultimate prize.
What Happened to the F1 and Formula E Winners?
I know some of you are looking for the "Grand Prix" in the traditional sense. If you’re checking the Formula 1 standings, there wasn't a race today. The 2026 F1 season hasn't started yet. Lando Norris is the reigning champ, and Max Verstappen is currently prepping to launch his new Red Bull RB22 on January 15.
However, we did just have the Mexico City E-Prix a few days ago. Nick Cassidy pulled off a miracle there. He went from 13th to 1st, which is basically unheard of in Formula E. He’s currently the guy to beat in the electric world. But if we're talking about who "won" the day today, January 13, 2026, the spotlight is firmly on the dunes.
The Strategy Nobody Talks About
You might think it’s just about flooring it. It’s not.
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Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings actually stopped on the side of the road yesterday to concede time. Why? Because they didn't want to "open" the stage today. When you’re the first car out, there are no tracks to follow. You’re the navigator for everyone else. It’s a thankless job that usually ends with you losing ten minutes to the guys behind you.
Even with that strategy, they still ended up second yesterday, which forced them into a tough spot today. They dropped from third to fourth overall. It just goes to show that even the best-laid plans can get swallowed by the sand.
Practical Insights for Rally Fans
If you're following the Dakar or any major Grand Prix event, here’s how to stay ahead of the curve:
- Watch the Penalties: In 2026, tech-checks and speed zone violations are more strict than ever. One minute can flip a leaderboard.
- Track the "No Service" Stages: This is where the experienced veterans like Nani Roma shine. They know how to preserve the mechanical health of the car when no mechanics are around to help.
- Don't Ignore the Youth: Eryk Goczal is proving that the simulator-trained generation has the reflexes to handle real-world chaos.
The race isn't over. With only a few stages left, the gap between Roma, Sainz, and Al-Attiyah is less than a minute and a half. We are looking at a photo finish in the middle of a desert.
To stay updated on the Dakar Rally and the upcoming F1 car launches, keep an eye on the official timing feeds. The next stage is a 375km sprint that could easily see Al-Attiyah reclaim his lead or Sainz finally overcome that penalty time.
Check the official Dakar app for live GPS tracking of the leaders during Stage 10.