Completing the full 590 km stage in 4 hours, 8 minutes and 55 seconds placed Stéphane Peterhansel and co-driver Mika Metge in the leading Stock-class position among those who finished the route, according to the provisional information available at the time.

Navigating soft dunes, rocky terrain and challenging open desert tested both the Defender D7X-R and its crew. Describing it as one of the team's cleanest days of the rally, Peterhansel highlighted his confidence in the car and praised Metge's navigation.

Following before the stage was halted were Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal in second, Yasir Seaidan and Jean-Michel Polato of Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body in third, and Sara Price and Sean Berriman in fourth.

Neutralizing the second half of the stage became necessary after several incidents required safety and medical resources. Stopping competitors at their next checkpoints allowed organizers to prioritize the wellbeing of drivers and crews.

Leaving competitors at different points along the route meant final timings and classifications had not been confirmed when the information was released. Supporting the decision, Defender Rally Team Principal Ian James emphasized that safety remained more important than the competition.

Bringing another demanding desert test, Stage Four covers 513 km in total, including a 381 km special stage through remote terrain around Zagora.

Combining wide rocky sections with technical sand will once again test driving, navigation and vehicle performance. Carrying momentum from Stage Three will be the goal for Defender Rally, while Sara Price will look to bounce back after experiencing car issues during the previous stage.

Promising another mix of speed, precision and endurance, the terrain around Zagora sets the scene for another challenging chapter in the desert rally.