HAIL (January 8, 2026) – Finally, a day without major issues for Tim and Tom Coronel. The brothers drove a strong fifth stage and finished 37th, over half an hour behind the stage winner. “This was just a good day,” says Tom, relieved. “No problems, never had to get out of the car. It was just a proper Coronel day.”
The 372-kilometre special from the marathon bivouac to Hail went smoothly. The Century CR7 T1+ didn’t miss a beat, and Tim started to find his rhythm. “I saw Tim picking up the pace, which was nice,” Tom explains. “The car felt really good.”
Two minor navigation errors
Not everything went perfectly: twice, the brothers made a small navigation mistake. “So we had to Not everything went perfectly: twice, the brothers made a small navigation mistake. “So we had to backtrack a little. That did cost us some time,” Tom admits. “But in the end, everything went well. This is where we belong, I think. A solid, average day.”
The result is just what they wanted: 37th place and an early arrival at the bivouac. “Quick to the finish and early in. Already in the bivouac by three o’clock. That’s been a while,” says Tim, satisfied. After days of setbacks and repairs, finally a day where everything went as it should. “We’re starting to find our place now,” Tim adds. “Step by step, but we’re really enjoying ourselves.”
Marathon bivouac: snoring, campfire, and tyre repairs
The evening at the marathon bivouac was a special experience. In the middle of the desert, Tim and Tom slept in a small tent, using their jackets as pillows in the primitive conditions. By the campfire, they enjoyed snacks with ERU to make the astronaut food a bit tastier. “We really enjoyed the scenery,” Tom says.
But it wasn’t all fun. Last night, the brothers had to repair the spare tires themselves. “We do that with plugs,” Tom explains. “First, you make the hole a bit bigger with a screwdriver, then you insert a rubber plug. It takes quite a bit of force because our tires are so tough. We even had to use a hammer.”
Tim looks back on the marathon stage with great enthusiasm. “Amazing, what a route. Different landscapes: stones, fast sand tracks, beautiful hills. Everything Dakar needs, really. No dunes, but still awesome and very tough.” The big question was whether the service crew would arrive. “You never know if your service will make it, you have no contact with anyone,” Tim explains. “Luckily, Marnix Leeuw arrived with some tires and eventually the spares too.” And the sleep? “Tim’s snoring didn’t really help,” Tom laughs.
Team did a super job
Tim has great respect for the team working behind the scenes. “Wow, those guys did a super job. After day two, with everything that happened to the car, we’re starting to get everything under control again. It’s great to tackle everything together with the team.”
Final stage before the rest day
Tomorrow, the final stage before the rest day in Riyadh awaits, and it will be tough. With an ultra-early start, the route heads toward the capital, followed by a long 589-kilometer liaison after the finish. The 331-kilometer special runs mostly through the Qassim region and is packed with sand dunes. “I’ve heard it’s a tough day, lots of dunes,” says Tim. “Over 300 kilometers, so it’ll be a long one.”
After arriving in Riyadh, it’s time for a well-deserved rest day. A moment to reflect on an intense first week full of challenges, crashes, and perseverance.
