GRÂNDOLA, Portugal – March 22, 2026 – Dust and mud rose in a total spectacle today on the route between Badajoz and Loulé, marking the end of the fourth stage of the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal. In an edition that redrawn the hierarchies of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), the Dacia Sandriders team demonstrated that their prototype is not just a desert machine, but a force capable of dominating any European terrain.
The fourth stage, held today over 315 kilometers of special stage, was considered the “Queen Stage” of this rally. The route brought the W2RC caravan from Spain back to Lusitanian soil, passing through the technical landscapes of the Alentejo towards the sunny but humid south of the Algarve.
The persistent rain of the last few days turned the forest roads of Serra do Caldeirão into a real mud trap. For the drivers, the challenge was not only speed, but also managing grip on the extremely slippery "gravel" sections, where a single mistake could mean retirement, as happened to Ford rival Carlos Sainz at the very beginning of the stage.
The Dacia team approached this stage with surgical precision. Here is how the "Horsemen" prevailed on the penultimate day of the competition:
1. Sébastien Loeb – Master of Damage Control
Leaving with a fragile lead after yesterday's stage, Loeb did what he does best: he drove at the limit, but without unnecessary risks. The Frenchman managed to finish the stage on the podium, consolidating his position as leader in the general classification. His Sandrider, powered by Aramco synthetic fuel, performed flawlessly despite the high humidity.
2. Lucas Moraes – The Rise of the Champion
Brazilian Lucas Moraes, newcomer to the Dacia family and reigning world champion in this 2026 scenario, was the revelation of the day. Moraes attacked the technical sections with controlled aggression, managing to achieve the second fastest time of the day, overtaking the Toyota Hiluxes on their favorite terrain.
3. Nasser Al-Attiyah – The Return of the “Prince”
After mechanical problems in Stage 3, Nasser Al-Attiyah came out on the attack today. Although his chances of an overall victory in Portugal were dashed yesterday, the Qatari showed why he is a multiple Dakar champion, setting record intermediate times in the first half of the stage, giving Dacia vital points in the constructors' standings.
| Position | Driver | Team / Vehicle | Time / Gap |
| 1st | Seth Quintero | Toyota Gazoo Racing | 2h 45m 12s |
| 2nd | Lucas Moraes | Dacia Sandriders | +00:42 |
| 3rd | Sébastien Loeb | Dacia Sandriders | +01:15 |
With only one stage left to go (scheduled for tomorrow, March 23), Dacia Sandriders is in an enviable position. In the general classification, Sébastien Loeb has a lead of over 5 minutes over Seth Quintero (Toyota), a margin that allows him to drive defensively in the last 115 kilometers of the competition.
"The car is incredible. We went from 40 degrees in Dakar to cold and mud in Portugal without the Sandrider showing any signs of fatigue. Tomorrow we just have to bring the car home," said Loeb at the service park in Loulé.
The Dacia team's victory in Portugal would not only be a sporting success, but also a confirmation of the maturity of the Romanian technical project in front of the giants from Japan and the USA.