AL HENAKIYAH (January 15, 2026) – Speed on plains, rocks through the bush-bush and a visit to the pit stop. Tim and Tom Coronel finished the eleventh stage of the Dakar Rally in 39th place, half an hour behind the stage winner. The brothers drove a solid stage from Bisha to Al Henakiyah, with particularly many rocky passages. "It was a really nice fast track with great variation, because after that there were serious rocks, rocks and more rocks," Tom explains. "The chance of a flat tire was high."
Tim agrees it was a special stage. "I thought it was quite a peculiar stage. Didn't amount to much in my opinion, but there was a very large section with stone paths in it. It really was a moonscape. We were sent through the bush-bush with rocks, rocks and many more rocks."
Flat tire before the pit stop
Just before the planned pit stop, the brothers felt something was wrong. "We were driving with the left rear tire flat, but that was just before the pit stop," Tom explains. "So we already felt it, we said: 'Come on, just keep driving'. We drove the last ten kilometers before the pit stop with a flat tire, but it all looked fine."
Tim adds: "We didn't want to drive with a flat tire and we drive into the pit stop with a flat tire." At the Remote Service Zone, the mechanics quickly changed the tire and the brothers could continue.
Speed and flow
The stage had some nice fast sections. "Especially very long fast sections," says Tom. "Good flow with the car too." There was a strange moment though. "At the beginning the car didn't want to reach top speed, I don't know why. It was a bit really weird. Whether there was so much wind, I don't know. It didn't want to go faster than 150. At some point it suddenly started running 170 and yeah, it was basically non-stop in the limiter."
Tim was satisfied with the speed. "The speed on the beautiful plains went well. I dare say the navigation was great. We were able to really push it."
After the finish, there was still a long liaison. "It was still a long way to the bivouac, about two to three hundred kilometers," says Tim. "Great to be back in the bivouac satisfied." Tom concludes contentedly: "It was another good day!"
Tomorrow penultimate stage to Yanbu
Tomorrow the penultimate stage is on the program from Al Henakiyah to Yanbu on the coast. A versatile route with fast tracks, tight corners through riverbeds and a closing dune passage. The chance of a big time gain is still there for those who have all the qualities.
Source: Coronel Dakar Team
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