Ales Loprais, together with teammates David Kripal and Jiri Stross, endured one of the most dramatic stretches of the Dakar 2026 rally. The InstaForex Loprais Team De Rooy FPT crew in the Red Dragon truck posted standout speed on stage 7, survived a heavy collision on stage 8, and manifested a triumphant win on stage 9.
Stage seven confirmed the Czech crew's strong form. The 420 km route from Hail to Al-Dawadimi ran across rocky wadis, fast plateaus, and technical dunes. Loprais attacked from the opening kilometers, swapping the lead with Lithuania's Vaidotas Zala and Dutch driver Mitchel van den Brink. Red Dragon posted average speeds of about 115 km/h on open sections. "Ales Loprais delivered an outstanding second place on stage 7," the official report said. The narrow runner-up finish kept the crew in touch with the overall leader and preserved their bid for the overall victory.
One of the rally's most dramatic stages was stage 8. The 480 km special stage crossed massive dunes up to 150 meters high. "A collision occurred in the dunes when Martin Macik crashed into our Red Dragon," the team reported. The impact on a steep dune crest damaged the front suspension and deformed the truck's right wing. "Despite that, our Red Dragon managed to get back up and continue," the team added. Jiri Stross carried out field repairs, restoring steerability. The crew lost about 15 minutes but reached the finish, keeping podium hopes alive.
Stage 9 was the response to the drama - Red Dragon returned to the top. The looped route from Al-Dawadimi led into a marathon zone without service support, featuring a 350 km special. "Ales Loprais scored a major victory on stage 9 in the truck category!" the team declared. Starting from fifth position after the previous day's setbacks, the crew executed a flawless run. "In the tough marathon section, where teams have no access to mechanical help, Red Dragon posted the best time among the heavy trucks," the report noted. The margin to the nearest pursuer exceeded three minutes. The triumph moved Loprais up to third place overall, significantly improving his chances for a final podium placing.
David Kripal commented, "Stage 8 was a nightmare-the collision could have ended our Dakar. But the team proved that Red Dragon does not give up. This ninth-stage win is a statement: we are here to fight to the last kilometer."
LOPRAIS TATRA TEAM AND DAKAR CLASSIC
The classic crews of Loprais Tatra Team continued solid performances. On the transfers during stages from 7 to 9, they passed regularity tests in Al-Dawadimi. Igor Pazdera in the Tatra 815-2 Puma consolidated his lead in H2, ahead of Italian driver Calzi by 32 points. Teammates of Jiri Husek in the HAS 4x4 followed in second, 28 points adrift of Pazdera. Both trucks recorded minimal penalties, underscoring Czech dominance in the classic category.
InstaForex Loprais Team De Rooy FPT thanked fans, "From drama to triumph-this is the heart of Dakar. Red Dragon is flying again!"
