Tosha Schareina won Stage 4 of the 2026 Desafío Ruta 40 Argentina, ending KTM’s unbeaten run with a Honda HRC podium lockout alongside Ricky Brabec and Skyler Howes. Daniel Sanders survived an early navigation mistake and remains the overall leader ahead of the final day of round three of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

After the prologue and three stages of orange domination, Honda HRC finally hit back at the 2026 Desafío Ruta 40 Argentina. Stage 4, running between San Rafael and San Juan, featured 306 kilometres against the clock and 341 kilometres of liaison, and brought KTM’s winning streak in this year’s Argentine rally to an end.

The man who changed the script was Tosha Schareina. The Spaniard won the special in 3h37’48”, taking his 25th RallyGP victory in the W2RC and moving to within seven wins of Daniel Sanders’ record. It was also Spain’s 30th victory and Honda’s 73rd win in the class.

The key moment of the stage came early. Daniel Sanders, the rider in control of the rally up to now, got lost at the beginning of the special and was already more than nine minutes down at kilometre 45. For a while, the race looked wide open, but “Chucky” reacted, found his rhythm again and managed to limit the damage by the time he reached the finish in San Juan.

Up front, Schareina made the most of the opportunity. The Spaniard led a Monster Energy Honda HRC 1-2-3, with Ricky Brabec second at 1’18” and Skyler Howes third at 3’10”. It was a perfect day for Honda, just when KTM had looked to have the race under control.

Sanders, despite that early scare, finished fourth at 3’16” from the winner, ahead of Luciano Benavides, fifth at 5’35”, and Ross Branch, sixth at 6’17”. Martim Ventura, first in Rally2, placed seventh overall ahead of Adrien Van Beveren, Edgar Canet and Bruno Crivilin.

Sanders still leads, but Schareina closes in

The overall standings head into the final stage with Daniel Sanders still in control. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider did not come away untouched from his mistake, but he did manage to keep the lead on a day that could have cost him much more.

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With his stage win, Schareina has cut the gap and now sits 10’20” behind the leader. The Valencian rider is still in the fight, although Sanders keeps a useful margin going into the final day.

The podium battle has also tightened up. Ricky Brabec is back inside the top three overall, but he will need to keep a close eye on Luciano Benavides, who is racing on home soil and sits just over a minute behind. The Argentine knows all about turning a race around on the final day, so Honda cannot afford to switch off.

Rally2: Martim Ventura leads the way as Honda strikes again

Honda also came out stronger in Rally2. Martim Ventura was once again the fastest rider in the category and finished seventh overall on the stage, a result that confirms the strong form he is carrying through this rally.

The Portuguese rider extends his Rally2 overall lead and now has 4’34” in hand over his teammate Bruno Crivilin, keeping the internal Honda fight very much alive.

Rally3: Purevdorj remains unbeaten

In Rally3, Murun Purevdorj continues to give his rivals no room to breathe. The Xraids Experience rider remains unbeaten in the category and is on course to leave Argentina as the new championship leader, provided nothing goes wrong on the final stage.

Final stage: San Juan will decide

The 2026 Desafío Ruta 40 Argentina comes to a close today with Stage 5, a loop starting and finishing in San Juan. The riders face 552 kilometres in total, including 320 kilometres against the clock, with plenty still on the line: the overall victory, the final podium and the World Championship categories.

DR40 Argentina 2026 – Stage 4 results

  1. T. Schareina (Honda), 3:37:48
  2. R. Brabec (Honda), +1:18
  3. S. Howes (Honda), +3:10
  4. D. Sanders (KTM), +3:16
  5. L. Benavides (KTM), +5:35
  6. R. Branch (Hero), +6:17
  7. M. Ventura (Honda), +6:36
  8. A. Van Beveren (Honda), +6:47
  9. E. Canet (KTM), +8:27
  10. B. Crivilin (Honda), +8:56

DR40 Argentina 2026 – Overall classification after Stage 4

  1. D. Sanders (KTM), 13:17:45
  2. T. Schareina (Honda), +10:20
  3. R. Brabec (Honda), +17:14
  4. L. Benavides (KTM), +18:16
  5. S. Howes (Honda), +21:23
  6. A. Van Beveren (Honda), +32:04
  7. E. Canet (KTM), +36:32
  8. R. Branch (Hero), +41:29
  9. M. Ventura (Honda), +48:26
  10. B. Crivilin (Honda), +53:00

 

Credit photos: ASO | DPPI | Edophoto (E. Bauer, I. Petrichei, M. Gebbia, H. Clancy)