Jordi Juvanteny, José Luis Criado and Xavi Ribas secured fourth place on the penultimate day and added 15 more points in Mission 1000.
The two-time category champions retain the lead with a 6-point advantage over their title rivals.
Ribas: “Tomorrow is the moment of truth. Even though it will be a short stage where our rivals will go flat out, we trust we can maintain the gap and secure our third crown.”
The KH-7 ECOVERGY Team is just one step away from securing its third consecutive victory in the Mission 1000 category at the Dakar Rally. After completing the 12th and penultimate stage, Jordi Juvanteny, José Luis Criado and Xavi Ribas remain in the lead, although their slim advantage leaves everything to be decided on the final day.
Today’s Friday stage, contested between Al Henakiyah and Yanbu, was one of the most complete tests of this second week of racing. The route covered 464 kilometres in total, with 95 of them timed, and combined challenging dunes, rocky sections and fast tracks, demanding maximum concentration. The crew of the MAN 6x6 finished in fourth place and added a total of 15 points: 10 for completing the special stage and a 5-point bonus for running in Normal Mode (within the reference time set by the organisers). However, their main rival drove in Sport Mode, leaving the overall gap at just 6 points.
It is worth highlighting the added difficulty the Spanish team faces this year, carrying a handicap due to their status as two-time champions. In today’s special stage, Juvanteny, Criado and Ribas had 13 minutes less margin than their competitors to meet the organisers’ reference time.
The day once again showcased the truck’s reliability and the maturity of a pioneering project capable of performing at the highest level. “Today we pushed the hydrogen-electric hybrid system to the limit to try to offset the handicap, and it responded perfectly. Jordi and José Luis were also flawless and, although we narrowly missed out on Sport Mode, we’re still leading,” explains Xavi Ribas. The EVARM director—whose company is responsible for developing the truck’s hybrid power supply technology—rounded off the day by celebrating his birthday in the middle of the Dakar.
Looking ahead to the rally’s conclusion, Ribas is cautious but optimistic: “Tomorrow we’re putting everything on the line. We have a small 6-point advantage and we hope the mechanics hold up. Even though it will be a short stage where our rivals will go flat out, we trust we can maintain the gap and secure our third consecutive crown.”
This Saturday, the final stage of Dakar 2026 will take place. The KH-7 ECOVERGY Team will have to cover the last 94 kilometres—only 48 of them timed—on a loop starting and finishing in Yanbu. It will be the final push before the podium ceremony in the Saudi city, where the Spanish team hopes to achieve its third historic triumph in the alternative energies category.
Source: KH-7 ECOVERGY Team
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