Riyadh, January 16 (QNA) - Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah is close to securing his sixth Dakar Rally title after strengthening his lead in the provisional overall standings of the 48th edition of the world's toughest rally, held in Saudi Arabia, following his victory in the penultimate stage.

Al Attiyah, who won the Dakar in 2011, 2015, 2019, 2022, and 2023, increased his stage wins to 50, equaling the record held by Finnish driver Ari Vatanen and Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel.

Nasser Al Attiyah, driving for Dacia, along with his Belgian co-driver Fabian Lurquin, completed the 12th stage, held Friday between Al Hanakiya and Yanbu, a distance of 720 km, including 311 km timed sections, in a time of 3 hours, 21 minutes, and 52 seconds.

He finished 1 minute and 4 seconds ahead of his closest rival, American Mitch Guthrie, driving for Ford, with his co-driver and compatriot Kylian Walsh, who came in second with a time of 3 hours, 22 minutes, and 56 seconds.

Austrian driver Toby Price of the Toyota team, with his Spanish co-driver Armand Monleón, finished third with a time of 3:23:17. Swedish driver Mattias Ekström of the Ford team, with his co-driver and compatriot Emil Bergqvist, came in fourth with a time of 3:23:41. Polish driver Erik Gozal of the Rally Energilandia team, with his co-driver and compatriot Szymon Jospodarczyk, completed the top five with a time of 3:25:47.

With this victory, Nasser Al Attiyah, a 20-time Middle East Rally Champion, extended his lead in the provisional overall standings with a total time of 48:01:51, 16 minutes and 2 seconds ahead of his closest rival, Spaniard Nani Roma of the Ford team, who finished second with a total time of 48:17:53.

Swede Mattias Ekström finished third with a total time of 48 hours, 25 minutes, and 12 seconds, 23 minutes and 21 seconds behind the leader. Frenchman Sébastien Loeb, Al-Attiyah's teammate at Dacia, and Spaniard Carlos Sainz, driving for Ford, finished fourth and fifth respectively, 23 minutes and 50 seconds behind the leader and 36 minutes and 33 seconds behind.

Al Attiyah will compete on Saturday, in the 13th and final stage in Yanbu, a 138-kilometer route including 105 kilometers of timed sections, aiming to secure his sixth Dakar title.

He holds a 16-minute advantage over his closest rival, making him the overwhelming favorite to win.

It is worth noting that Al Attiyah first won the Dakar Rally in 2011 with Volkswagen, and repeated the feat in 2015 behind the wheel of a Mini, before securing first place with Toyota in 2019, 2022, and 2023.

In the motorcycle category, American Ricky Brabec of the Honda team moved closer to clinching the title after winning the 12th stage ahead of his Argentinian rival Luciano Benavides of the KTM team, and Spaniard Tosha Sharina, his Honda teammate.

Brabec had previously won the rally in 2020 and 2024, while Benavides is seeking his first victory. His brother, Kevin Benavides, won in 2021 on a Honda and in 2023 on a KTM. (QNA)