The KH-7 ECOVERGY Team wins the fifth stage and moves into the lead of Mission 1000
Jordi Juvanteny, José Luis Criado and Xavi Ribas scored the maximum points of the day (30 points) after completing the special in Sport Mode and winning the Launch Control.
The MAN 6x6 crew, the reigning champions of the category, are now in the lead, five points ahead of their main rival.
Juvanteny: “It was a perfect day. The truck worked flawlessly and we were able to maintain a very high pace on a stage that was demanding in terms of navigation.”
The Mission 1000 standings are determined through a points system that rewards both performance and reliability.
The KH-7 ECOVERGY Team delivered a major statement at the 2026 Dakar Rally. After an impeccable performance, Jordi Juvanteny, José Luis Criado and Xavi Ribas claimed victory in the fifth stage and moved into the lead of the Mission 1000 category, five points ahead of their closest pursuer.
The crew of the hybrid hydrogen-electric MAN 6x6 produced a perfect day to score the maximum possible points: 30. This result came from completing the 109-kilometre special stage in Sport Mode (10 points for finishing plus a 10-point bonus for beating the reference time) and winning the acceleration test, or Launch Control, adding another 10 points. Winners of the only two editions of this category held to date, the reigning champions once again underlined their status as favourites.
“The stage was very complete, with rocky sections combined with fast tracks, and it was tricky to navigate. We had to stay fully focused, but José Luis was flawless with his co-driving, which allowed us to run at very high speeds. The truck worked perfectly and we’re very happy to move into the lead,” explained driver Jordi Juvanteny.
This Friday, 9 January, the team will tackle the sixth stage, linking Ha’il with Riyadh over a total of 783 kilometres (71 timed). It will be the final challenge before the rest day in the Saudi capital.
Mission 1000, the category where every point counts
Unlike other Dakar categories, Mission 1000 is decided through a points system that rewards both performance and reliability. Each day, the organisers award 10 points to anyone who completes the route, regardless of time.
On top of this base score, teams can earn a bonus depending on the reference time set daily by the organisers. Matching it earns an extra 5 points (Normal Mode). Beating it by up to 10% adds 10 additional points (Sport Mode). Exceeding the reference time by more than 10% yields no bonus (Eco Mode). For the KH-7 ECOVERGY Team, champions of the two editions held so far, this year’s reference time is more demanding than that of the motorcycles, forcing the crew to complete stages at a higher pace in order to earn bonuses.
In addition, the regulations include other special bonuses. One is Launch Control, a standing-start acceleration test over 200 metres that awards 10 additional points to the fastest vehicle in its class, 5 to the second-fastest and 2 to the third. There is also the Fan Boost, which allows the public to vote for their favourite project via Dakar’s social media. The most supported entry can earn up to 10 extra points.
Source: KH-7 ECOVERGY
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