2026 Desafío Ruta 40 results: Sanders wins stage 3 as KTM claims a One-Two
Daniel Sanders wins stage 3 of the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF, the third round of the 2026 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship in Argentina. The Red Bull KTM rider led the way across the 409-kilometre special around San Rafael and, thanks to the time bonuses he earned, claimed his third consecutive stage victory ahead of Luciano Benavides and Tosha Schareina.
Opening the road on a 409-kilometre special is rarely an advantage. With no tracks ahead, no clear references and the full weight of navigation on his shoulders, Sanders once again proved he is in one of those moments when everything clicks. And when a fast rider navigates that cleanly, there is little the rest can do.
The Australian won the third stage of the 2026 Desafío Ruta 40 YPF with a time of 4:16:30, after spending more than four hours alone at the front. He had already won while opening the road the previous day, but doing it again on the longest special of the rally, with sand and many more kilometres ahead, was an even bigger statement.
Behind him, Luciano Benavides completed a strong day for KTM. The Argentine was the fastest rider on the ground, but Sanders made full use of the opening bonuses and ultimately took the stage win. Benavides finished second, just 57 seconds down, moving firmly into the fight for the podium.
Third place went to Tosha Schareina, 2:35 behind. The Spaniard was once again the top Monster Energy Honda HRC rider on a long stage in which Ricky Brabec lost third place in the provisional overall standings to Benavides.
Further back, Skyler Howes finished fourth, 5:45 down, followed by Ricky Brabec in fifth at 6:37. Adrien Van Beveren was sixth at 8:04, with Edgar Canet seventh at 12:43, Ross Branch eighth at 16:23, Martim Ventura ninth at 16:56 and Toni Mulec completing the top 10 at 17:51.
KTM Remains Unbeaten as Sanders Leads the Overall Standings
With this third consecutive victory at the 2026 DR40, Sanders also extended his record of RallyGP stage wins to 32, taking an important step towards a victory that is still missing from his résumé: the Desafío Ruta 40, the only event on the current W2RC calendar he has yet to win.
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider now leads the overall standings with a total time of 9:36:41 and a gap that is starting to look significant. Tosha Schareina remains second, 13:36 behind.
The big mover of the day was Luciano Benavides, who climbed to third overall, 15:57 off the lead. That result pushed Ricky Brabec down to fourth, now 19:12 behind, while Skyler Howes remains fifth at 21:29.
Further back, Adrien Van Beveren sits sixth, with Edgar Canet seventh and Ross Branch eighth. The top 10 is completed by Honda’s Rally2 riders Martim Ventura and Bruno Crivilin.
Red Bull KTM remains unbeaten in this edition. Benavides won the prologue, and Sanders has now taken the three stages that followed. The Austrian manufacturer has the rally under control just as the race begins to enter its decisive phase.
Rally2: Ventura Regains the Lead
In Rally2, Honda had more reason to breathe a little easier. Martim Ventura won the category and also finished ninth overall on the stage, a highly valuable result on such a long special.
Toni Mulec, riding for BAS World KTM, finished just 55 seconds behind, making it clear that the Rally2 fight remains wide open. Even so, Ventura did what he needed to do to retake the overall lead.
After Stage 3, the Portuguese rider leads Rally2 ahead of his teammates Bruno Crivilin, 2:14 behind, and Preston Campbell, 7:48 back, with three Honda riders at the head of the category.
Rally3: Purevdorj Keeps Doing His Thing
In Rally3, Murun Purevdorj maintained his perfect winning record with Xraids Experience. The Mongolian rider remains unbeaten and continues to set the pace in a category where, so far, nobody has managed to put him under real pressure.
Stage 4 takes place today, with 306 kilometres against the clock, as the Desafío Ruta 40 heads into its final stretch.
2026 DR40 Argentina – Stage 3 results
- D. Sanders (KTM), 4:16:30
- L. Benavides (KTM), +0:57
- T. Schareina (Honda), +2:35
- S. Howes (Honda), +5:45
- R. Brabec (Honda) 6:37
- A. Van Beveren (Honda), +08:04
- E. Canet (KTM), +12:43
- R. Branch (Hero), +16:23
- M. Ventura (Honda), +16:56
- T. Mulec (KTM), +17:51
2026 DR40 Argentina – Overall standings after Stage 3
- D. Sanders (KTM), 9:36:41
- T. Schareina (Honda), +13:36
- L. Benavides (KTM), +15:57
- R. Brabec (Honda), +19:12
- S. Howes (Honda), +21:29
- A. Van Beveren (Honda), +28:33
- E. Canet (KTM), +31:21
- R. Branch (Hero), +38:28
- M. Ventura (Honda), +45:06
- B. Crivilin (Honda), +47:20
Credit photos: ASO | DPPI + Horacio Cabilla + Edophoto
