Ales Loprais and his teammates, David Kripal and Jiri Stross, kicked off the 2026 Dakar Rally with confidence, winning the first stage in the truck category and showcasing top-tier performance in the second and third special stages. Despite encountering camels on the track, punctures, and mechanical issues, the InstaForex Loprais Team De Rooy FPT crew, driving the Red Dragon truck, immediately made their ambitions clear.
The first stage was a triumph for the Czech crew. Red Dragon, dubbed by Loprais as "Red Dragon in Golden Armor," sped through the route with perfect timing, leaving all competitors behind. "Red Dragon is born!" the team\'s official report states, highlighting a successful debut in Saudi Arabia. Loprais started strong, denying any chance to competitors like Mitchell van den Brink or Lithuania\'s Vaidotas Zala. The stage included sandy stretches and high-speed straights where the Iveco Powerstar demonstrated excellent handling. Finishing first not only earned the crew points but also gave them a psychological edge for the marathon challenges ahead.
The second stage brought new challenges: camels blocked the track, and Red Dragon "flew like crazy," according to the team. Despite a minor defect, a puncture or small breakdown, the crew kept their pace. "The pace is strong, the team is flawless, and the desert is just beginning to deal its cards," LOPRAIS NEWS said. The route, filled with sand and rocky zones, demanded maximum concentration. The trucks battled the heat and navigation issues, but Loprais kept his top position. The average speed on the special stage exceeded 60 km/h, with a gap of just minutes from the closest rivals. This allowed crew # 601 to maintain their overall lead, demonstrating the reliability of the truck and the team\'s cohesion.
The third stage turned into a real thriller. Starting from fifth position, Red Dragon surged to the front and held onto the lead until the final kilometers. "We were flying ahead, battling, until two late punctures cost us time," Loprais described the drama of the day. The special stage, covering about 350 km of dunes and technical turns, tested endurance with steep climbs, deep sand, and the risk of getting stuck. The crew finished only 1:30 behind the leader, a brilliant result considering the setbacks. "A beautiful performance," the team summed up. In the overall standings, Loprais moved closer to the podium, trailing Zala by just a few minutes.
The fourth stage looms as a true marathon test: no service support, just the crew and Red Dragon against the desert. The route will loop back to the bivouac, with a focus on the Rub\' al Khali dunes. Organizers have separated truck routes to avoid congestion from buggies. Loprais starts in the top three, but ahead lies 130 km of pure sand with no guidance from other categories.
David Kripal commented on the start of the rally: "The desert is just warming up. Our first victory gave us confidence, but the defects are a reminder that we can\'t let up. Red Dragon is flying, and we\'re going for the top spot in the overall standings. Our strategy is in place-we\'re relying on navigation and the team."
LOPRAIS TATRA TEAM AND DAKAR CLASSIC
Meanwhile, the classic crews of Loprais Tatra Team continued their fight in the Dakar Classic category. During the first-to-second stage transitions, they tested their regularity and navigation skills using replica Tatra 815 trucks. The crew of Igor Pazdera and Olga Lounova leads in the H2 group, ahead of their HAS-4x4 rivals by just a few points. Penalties are minimal: Puma is precise in speed, and the red truck is on the right path. Third place goes to Italy\'s Stefano Calzi, but the Czechs are dominating. The third stage for the classic crews will feature dunes without tracks, a pure challenge for the veteran Tatra drivers.
InstaForex Loprais Team De Rooy FPT thanks its sponsors for their support. Red Dragon is ready for new battles-stay tuned for updates!
