Dakar 2022: Al-Attiyah and Baumel win the Prologue, Loeb 5th

Who said that athletes can't relax on the eve of a crucial deadline? To better experience New Year's Eve 2022, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel (Toyota) had decided to bivouac in the middle of the desert, under the stars. The pure air of Saudi Arabia (and a good barbecue prepared by the Rebellion team) apparently did them the greatest good, as evidenced by their best time during the Prologue of the Dakar 2022 on January 1.

Contested over 19 km in the middle of an endless 591 km connection between Jeddah and Ha'il, the qualifying stage offered dunes and dirt tracks. A sort of hors d'oeuvre that was well digested by the new Toyota Hilux in T1+ configuration (bi-turbo V6 engine instead of the naturally aspirated V8, widened suspensions and tracks, larger tires).

🚗💨 @AlAttiyahN is already on the attack! ⚡️# Dakar2022 pic.twitter.com/MUDytCuZ7F

- DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 1, 2022

“I am happy with this result even if it does not mean much from the perspective of the rally, declared the Qatari. I am also satisfied with the behavior of the Toyota as well as the new BFGoodrich tires. »

Another new car on this Dakar, the Audi RS Q e-tron hybrid was eagerly awaited. True to his combative nature, Carlos Sainz didn't ask any questions and pressed the right pedal. Second only 12 seconds behind, the Madrilenian, associated with Lucas Cruz, proves that the combination of four electric motors of Formula E and a TFSI thermal block of DTM provides a high level of performance.

Our first prologue done and dusted. The three Audi RS Q e-tron* and their driver crews are now back on route to Haʼil.

>> https://t.co/i5Tnh0Pbjz#FutureIsAnAttitude #AudiDakar # Dakar2022 #RSQetron pic.twitter.com/4DZ5QqTtFH

- Audi Sport (@audisport) January 1, 2022

His teammate and defending champion Stéphane Peterhansel was more discreet, with the 14th time (+1'12''). “We did this special very gently, completely in silence. We have done 20 kilometers, we are entering the race. We drive very carefully, we still look at the parameters, but when driving the car is very nice. »

Let's finish listing the new cars with Sébastien's BRX Thunder T1+ Loeb and Fabian Lurquin. The nine-time world rally champion sets the fifth fastest time (+37'') and stands out for the days to come.

The Prologue is usually an opportunity for second-tier crews to put themselves forward. Co-winner of the qualifying special in 2021, Brian Baragwanath (Century) almost repeated his hold-up. The South African failed in third place, just 36'' from Al-Attiyah-Baumel, this time sailed by Leonard Cremer.

B. Baragwanath likes the short stages. © Frédéric Le Floc'h / DPPI

Impressive until his front somersault and a broken collarbone last year, Hank Lategan (Toyota) received the T1+ evolution of the Hilux 4×4, and already knows the instructions: tied for 4th with his compatriot Baragwanath.

As for the independent French drivers, Mathieu Serradori and Loïc Minaudier (Century) and Ronan Chabot-Gilles Pillot (Toyota) complete the top 20, a few positions ahead of Cyril Despres, navigated not by Mike Horn but by Taye Perry. Left thanks to the generosity of Nasser Al-Attiyah on one of his Toyota Hilux T1s, Romain Dumas and Rémi Boulanger bring up the rear.

In the T3 category (modified SSV), newcomer Andreas Mikkelsen (Overdrive) achieved a convincing second time, just 3 seconds behind his teammate in the Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team, Seth Quintero. Winner of the 2021 World Cup, Cristina Gutiérrez (Overdrive) is 6th at 44 seconds.

This Prologue of the Dakar 2022 will be followed in the evening by a protocol ceremony, during which the first 15 competitors in each category (Auto, Motorcycle, T3, SSV, Truck) will be able to determine their starting order for the first stage around of Ha'il.

This measure was taken so that the fastest drivers in the Prologue would not be penalized the next day by opening the track. A pitfall that Al-Attiyah-Baumel was unable to avoid in 2021, suddenly losing 12 minutes to future winners Peterhansel-Boulanger.

Ranking :