In two stages, Dakar 2025 was left without two favorites. It was fired by Carlos Sainz in the Ford Raptor and Sebastian Loeb in the Dacia Sandstorm
For the past two days, large storms have reigned in a large part of Saudi Arabia, causing real desert floods and torrents. In just a few hours, more than 200 liters of rain fell per square meter, so the organizers of Dakar 2025 shortened and simplified today’s third stage in order to avoid flood zones.
Despite everything, in the first two stages, we were left without two favorites “on paper” of this year’s Dakar.
First, last year’s winner Carlos Sainz and co-pilot Lucas died during the 48-hour special test due to an obvious mistake in evaluating the terrain. Admittedly, he managed to finish the second stage with heavy damage, over an hour late, which, with the heavy and irreparable load on his Ford Raptor, was decisive for him to withdraw from the race.
The very next day, in today’s third stage, a large stone under a small desert bush was fatal for Sebastian Loeb in the Dacia Sandstorm.
The terrible rollover fortunately ended without consequences for the team, however although they were able to make their Dacia Sandstorm reach the finish of the stage, the damage was also too serious to continue the race.
The elimination of Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Loeb, in a way, favors the five-time Dakar winner the most Nasser Al-Atiah in Dacia, who holds a strong second place in the general ranking and at least in terms of the driving style, there is clearly a mistake lurking in the leading Toyota Gazoo Racing team, which is in the hands of Henk Lategan, who is still quite inexperienced in Dakar.
Naser Al-Atiah was very clear in an informal conversation in the Davor bivouac: “Dacia Sandeider is in top form, I will be No.1”
For motorcyclists, it is the most difficult as always. Those are real heroes! When it blows at a speed of over 120 km/h across the rocky area, it takes everyone’s breath away.
After almost 1000 km on soft sand in 48 chrono the difference between the two leading motorcyclists was a few hundredths of a second!!!
After the third stage of two-wheelers, it is clear that Danijel Sanders on a KTM machine drives flawlessly. It could be said that he is the most experienced on his heels Ross Branch (currently third) who drives evenly, stably and, like Nasser, waits for the opponent’s mistake like a real fox.
However, beyond the millions of teams’ budgets, the oldest participant in the rally leaves the strongest impression: Citroen 2CV Spaček from 1968, which drives in the Classic Cars category.
Team 2 chameaux (2 camels, pun).
The characters financed their own adventure. Phenomenal!!!
For them, the ranking is not important, but reaching the end of the rally is very important. If they succeed in this, we will have a lot of reasons to regret the good old days of all-powerful cars.
And finally, a truck rally without Kamaz is like a cake without icing, and the caravan of heavyweights is led by the Czech Martin Macik in Tatra.
Rally officially left the camp in the Saudi town of Bishi today, modern nomads hit the road under their heels, so we reporters are also moving. But with asphalt! Comfortable!
Exclusively from Dakar Rally 2025.
Lidija Piroški
Reporter’s partner: With #otpleasingsrbija_every dream is attainable
GENERALNI PLASMAN NAKON 3. ETAPE
Source: vrelegume.rs
