Carlos Sainz continues on the 7th stage of the Dakar

After a well-deserved day of rest yesterday in Riyadh, Carlos Sainz (mini) did not fail to get off to a good start this Sunday on the 7th stage of the Dakar 2020 towards Wadi Al Dawasir.

The double world rally champion remained in ambush during the first part of the day's special, 546 km long, before taking the lead at WP5, after 321 km.

L’Espagnol a ensuite déroulé pour creuser l’écart sur Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota), resté dans le top 3 tout au long de la journée, mais qui n’a pu contenir la furia du matador madrilène. Devancé de 2’12 » à l’arrivée, Al-Attiyah pointe désormais à dix minutes pleines du Mini JCW buggy de tête.

Stéphane Peterhansel (Mini) and Bernhard Ten Brinke (Toyota) finished 3rd and 4th today at 2'53" and 2'58" after scoring each other during the entire special. Peterhansel now concedes 19'13" in the general classification. Followed by the Toyota Hilux of Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Fernando Alonso, clocked at 7'36" and 7'49" on this 7th stage.

Today's stage was unfortunately mourned by the death of Portuguese motorcycle rider Paulo Gonçalves, 40, after a fall at kilometer 276 on the seventh stage which takes the peloton towards Wadi Al Dawasir

“Alerted at 10:08 a.m., the organizers dispatched a medical helicopter which landed at 10:16 a.m. with the unconscious pilot, in cardiac arrest, indicates France TV. After an on-site resuscitation attempt, the pilot was airlifted to Layla hospital where he was unfortunately pronounced dead. »

Paulo Gonçalves finished 2nd in the 2015 Dakar with Honda behind Marc Coma, current co-driver of Fernando Alonso at Toyota.

All AUTO editorial staffhebdo extends its sincere condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Paulo Gonçalves.

Ranking step 7:

General ranking after stage 7: