Desafío Ruta 40 Argentina results: Sanders wins again and extends his lead on Stage 2
Daniel Sanders claimed another victory on Stage 2 of the 2026 Desafío Ruta 40 YPF, between San Juan and San Rafael, round three of the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship, extending his lead in Argentina after beating Luciano Benavides and Tosha Schareina. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider now increases his advantage at the top of the overall standings ahead of Tosha Schareina and Ricky Brabec.
Daniel Sanders continues to set the pace at the 2026 Desafío Ruta 40 YPF. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider kept the throttle pinned and took his second stage win in a row on Stage 2, a route from San Juan to San Rafael featuring a 128-kilometre special and 506 kilometres of liaison, further strengthening his lead in the third round of the World Rally-Raid Championship.
The Australian, who opened the stage after his victory the previous day, once again imposed his rhythm and completed the special in 1h39’43”. His teammate, Luciano Benavides, finished second at 5’00”, a result that moves the local hero up to fourth overall in front of his home crowd.
Tosha Schareina finished third at 5’17” and remains Sanders’ closest challenger in the overall standings, while Ricky Brabec was fourth at 5’25”. Behind them, Adrien Van Beveren posted the fifth-fastest time, followed by Edgar Canet, Preston Campbell, Bradley Cox, Romain Dumontier and Skyler Howes, who completed the day’s top 10.
RallyGP: Sanders stretches his advantage
After two stages, Sanders leads the overall standings with a total time of 5h20’11” and an 11’01” advantage over Schareina. Brabec remains third, 12’35” behind, while Luciano Benavides climbs to fourth, 15’00” off the lead.
Edgar Canet also makes ground and moves up to fifth overall, ahead of Skyler Howes, Adrien Van Beveren and Ross Branch. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Monster Energy Honda HRC fill the top seven places, a run only broken by Branch on the Hero MotoSports bike before the first Rally2 riders, Preston Campbell and Martim Ventura.
Sanders now heads into Stage 3 as the clear rally leader, with the longest special of this year’s DR40 waiting: 409 kilometres against the clock and 166 kilometres of liaison in a loop around San Rafael.
Rally2: Campbell wins as Honda takes another clean sweep
In Rally2, Preston Campbell claimed his first W2RC victory and put Monster Energy Honda HRC back on top of the category. The American also finished seventh overall on the stage, ahead of his Rally2 teammates Martim Ventura and Bruno Crivilin.
Campbell also takes the Rally2 overall lead, with Ventura second at 2’17” and Crivilin third at 2’35”, completing another all-Honda podium.
Rally3: Purevdorj unstoppable
In Rally3, Murun Purevdorj won again for Xraids Experience and keeps his perfect run of victories alive at the Desafío Ruta 40. In the quads, Antanas Kanopkinas took the stage win, although Argentina’s Lucas Domínguez remains in control of the overall standings.
2026 DR40 Argentina – Stage 2 Results
- D. Sanders (KTM), 1:39:43
- L. Benavides (KTM), +5:00
- T. Schareina (Honda), +5:17
- R. Brabec (Honda), +5:25
- A. Van Beveren (Honda), +6:46
- E. Canet (KTM), +6:53
- P. Campbell (Honda), +7:22
- B. Cox (Sherco), +7:36
- R. Dumontier (KTM), +7:54
- S. Howes (Honda), +9:31
2026 DR40 Argentina – Overall Standings after Stage 2
- D. Sanders (KTM), 5:20:11
- T. Schareina (Honda), +11:01
- R. Brabec (Honda), +12:35
- L. Benavides (KTM), +15:00
- E. Canet (KTM), +18:38
- S. Howes (Honda), +18:47
- A. Van Beveren (Honda), +20:29
- R. Branch (Hero), +22:05
- P. Campbell (Honda), +25:53
- M. Ventura (Honda), +28:10
Fotos: ASO + DPPI + Edophoto (Edoardo Bauer, Irina Petrichei y Matteo Gebbia) + HRC
