Dakar 2023, Stage 2 – Sébastien Loeb severely left behind, Al-Attiyah winner

The Dakar 2023 started on a quiet basis, too quiet. This second stage, linking Sea Camp to Al-Ula (Saudi Arabia) this Monday, January 2, reminded us of the extent to which the rally-raid could produce unexpected scenarios.

Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin (Bahrain Raid Xtreme) are the biggest victims of the day. The Alsatian pilot and his Belgian navigator passed km 348 1h20' behind Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz (Audi) following three punctures. The Prodrive Hunter T1+ can only carry two spare wheels, the Alsatian had to patch up the flat tire as best he could before returning to the track at reduced speed.

The world rally-raid vice-champions (W2RC) lose very big in an event which must still last 12 specials. Sébastien Loeb had nevertheless started his 2023 Dakar well, applying deliberately cautious driving in order to avoid punctures during the opening stage, with good reason. The leading couple of the English BRX team were in 2nd place in the general classification this Monday morning, 10 seconds behind Sainz-Cruz.

The stage was won by the defending champion, Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota). Associated with the Frenchman Mathieu Baumel, the Qatari came up to the wire against an astonishingly efficient Erik van Loon (Toyota) (starting 41st). The four-time Dakar winner is 2'12" behind leaders Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz in the general classification.

Behind, the hole deepens. Stéphane Peterhansel and Édouard Boulanger (Audi) lost half an hour, as did Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Dirk von Zitzewitz (Toyota). In fact, third place overall is occupied by the French Matthieu Serradori and Loïc Minaudier on their new Century CR6 with turbo engine!

Dakar 2023 ranking – Stage 2:

General classification :