Rally driver Diego Domínguez loses glasses mid-race, impacting confidence

Paraguayan rally driver Diego Domínguez Bejarano faced an unusual challenge during the second stage of the Rally of Paraguay 2026 when he lost his crucial driving glasses. The incident occurred immediately after completing the second special stage of the day (SS10), leaving him to navigate the subsequent stages without his specialized eyewear.

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I am losing confidence without my glasses.

"I am losing confidence without my glasses," Domínguez expressed to the WRC broadcast, highlighting the immediate impact on his performance. The WRC2 leader, who drives a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, explained that these were not just any glasses but essential for his driving. He did not have a spare pair readily available in the car and had to secure a replacement before continuing the race.

Despite the setback, Domínguez managed to finish the first loop of the morning stages in the lead among the Rally2 competitors. He described the conditions as challenging, with rain affecting some parts of the rally route. The loss of his glasses happened on the last of the morning's special stages, which he noted was particularly difficult.

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I lost my glasses, which are special and I use them for driving, and I did not have another one in the car, which is why I had to get one at the end of a special stage or only at the Service Park after finishing the loop.

Domínguez, the son of a former rally champion, is aiming to maintain his lead in the WRC2 category. He held a significant advantage, leading Gus Greensmith by 34 seconds and Fau Zaldívar by 1 minute and 46 seconds. He mentioned having two spare pairs of glasses and intended to switch them out to see how he could perform in the afternoon stages, hoping to overcome the disadvantage caused by his lost eyewear.

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Now I have two spares, I'm going to change and see what we do in the afternoon.