By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with sabcnews.com
Published on 2024-01-17 19:25:28
Sebastien Loeb made significant progress in the Dakar Rally, cutting Carlos Sainz’s lead to just 13 minutes after both drivers suffered from multiple tire punctures during stage 10 in Saudi Arabia. Loeb, a nine-time world rally champion, faced a challenging 371 km loop around Al’Ula. He had two punctures on the left side of his Prodrive Hunter and encountered a broken hydraulic jack, finishing 16th in the stage. Despite the setbacks, Loeb made up for lost time, while Toyota’s Guerlain Chicherit secured the stage win.
Sainz, a 61-year-old triple Dakar champion, also experienced three punctures during the stage. His Audi teammate, Mattias Ekstrom, came to the rescue by providing a spare wheel. With only two stages left before the race concludes in Yanbu, Sainz remains in the lead, ahead of Loeb by 13 minutes and 22 seconds.
Although Loeb faced challenges, he remains determined to secure his first Dakar win. His optimism was fueled by Sainz’s time loss in the stage. Last year’s winner, Nasser Al-Attiyah, retired from the race due to mechanical issues, ending his bid for a sixth Dakar win.
In the motorcycle category, American Ricky Brabec took the stage win, extending his lead over Botswana’s Ross Branch to 10 minutes and 54 seconds. Brabec is in a strong position to secure his second Dakar title with only two days left in the competition. In the SSV category, fellow-Californian Sara Price achieved the fastest time, placing her second overall, trailing behind France’s Xavier de Soultrait by 20 minutes.
As the Dakar Rally nears its conclusion, the competition intensifies, and the remaining stages will determine the ultimate winners in each category. With both triumphs and setbacks, the rally continues to test the resilience and determination of all participants.
Read the original article on SABC-News
