Dakar – Serradori overcomes Alonso for a memorable victory

Who said that privateers no longer have their place on the Dakar? Certainly, the Auto category has been dominated by official teams for decades. But the valiant independent crews can always play spoilsport, as Mathieu Serradori and Fabian Lurquin did this Monday, January 13 around Wadi Al Dawasir (Saudi Arabia).

Aboard their South African CR6 buggy, the Franco-Belgian duo took the lead shortly before halfway and never let go. On a sandy course, the former biker won his first stage victory in the rally-raid. 

Delayed by a crash in a dune then a puncture the day before, Serradori-Lurquin left with the knife between their teeth. Helped by a favorable starting position (16th), they were able to count on the footsteps of previous competitors. 

“I’m really, really happy. That's a beautiful story, jubilant Mathieu Serradori. Yesterday was very complicated, we made a mistake and we paid for it in cash. This morning we got back together, everyone was behind me. I dedicate this victory to Paulo (Gonçalves, died following a fall. Editor’s note) because I'm a former biker. It's not easy to mobilize after a day like that and my co-driver Fabien was there too. There are two attackers in the car and I am very happy” ​

They are ahead of neither more nor less than Fernando Alonso and Marc Coma (Toyota). Le double vainqueur des 24 Hours of Le Mans and the former Dakar race director thus achieved their best day in the race (+4'04'').

As for the favorites, none did well. Starting in the lead, Carlos Sainz, associated with Lucas Cruz (Mini) spent 19' on the winner. The “Matador” did not make an impression; in his misfortune, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel (Toyota) only took three minutes from him. 

In the general classification, Stéphane Peterhansel and Paulo Fiuza (Mini) are closing in on the X-Raid team. The French driver only has a 13'09'' delay, while Nasser Al-Attiyah falls below the 7' mark. 

Dakar 2020 Ranking Stage 8:

General ranking after Step 8: