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Stage 3 – Goldilocks for Al-Attiyah-Baumel, Sainz-Cruz lose big
The Dakar takes on a usual appearance for Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel (Toyota). Malgré la charge d’ouvrir la route sur la troisième étape ce mardi 5 janvier autour de Wadi Ad-Dawasir, yesterday's winners continued with a new scratch time.
In this “Goldilocks” as the organizers nicknamed it due to a sandy setting punctuated with dunes, the Toyota Hilux never seemed to hesitate on the course to follow.
This is not the case Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz (Mini). The Spanish couple got lost at km 156 and went so far as to deviate from the correct track by two mile markers! The title holders pay a high price and give half an hour on the winners of the day, 31'02'' precisely.
After a sluggish start (30th at the first way-point), Stéphane Peterhansel and Édouard Boulanger recovered brilliantly. The French Mini JCW Buggy subsequently adopted an identical pace to the Qatari-French Toyota Hilux and reached the bivouac with only 4'05'' lost.
The tenors of the category had to make way for the beginner Henk Lategan (Toyota), 2nd at 2'27''. Sailed by Brett Cummings, the South African, double champion coming out of rally- raid in his country in front of Giniel de Villiers, shows that Toyota Gazoo Racing was right to bet on him in 2021. The 26-year-old rookie is making great progress, following stages punctuated by three punctures and several gardening sessions.
Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena (BRX) could have finished in the same time as Peterhansel-Boulanger. Unfortunately, the nine-time world rally champions lost ground in the last 100 km, and finished 13 minutes behind Al-Attiyah-Sainz, but three minutes ahead of the independents. Mathieu Serradori-Fabian Lurquin (Century).
Mathieu Serradori is also in great form throughout these first three days. The Frenchman is third overall 26'21'' behind leader Stéphane Peterhansel. Nasser Al-Attiyah comes back at 5'09'' and Carlos Sainz is left behind at 33'34''. Sébastien Loeb now loses 45'49''.
Ranking 3rd stage:
General ranking after 3rd stage:
Medhi Casaurang
Passionate about the history of motorsport across all disciplines, I learned to read thanks to AUTOhebdo. At least that's what my parents tell everyone when they see my name inside!
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