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Dakar 2023 – Stage 3: Chicherit’s audacity rewarded, Sainz unscrews

One day after giving up his dreams of final victory, Guerlain Chicherit won his first stage on a Dakar in 10 years. Overall, Nasser Al-Attiyah stands alone in the lead.

Published on 03/01/2023 à 13:02

Medhi Casaurang

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Dakar 2023 – Stage 3: Chicherit’s audacity rewarded, Sainz unscrews

Guerlain Chicherit won a 3rd stage shortened due to rain. ©DPPI/F. Le Floc’h

The reaction of pride did not take long. Rejected 3h38' from the race lead in the 2023 Dakar following five punctures during the second stage, Guerlain Chicherit and Alex Winocq (GCK) were able to remobilize this Tuesday, January 3, between Al Ula and Ha'il (Saudi Arabia ).

The winning crew of Rally du Maroc 2022, who started at the depths of the ranking (41st place), attacked at the wheel of the 4×4 Hunter T1+ from the first to the 377th kilometer, instead of the 442 km announced. This is where the race management decided to stop the fees due to heavy rain, preventing the rescue helicopter from flying if necessary.

For Guerlain Chicherit, this stage success on a Dakar puts an end to 10 years of waiting! He actually won a special in South America in 2013 on a two-wheel drive SMG buggy.

The big loser of this shortened stage is Carlos Sainz (Audi). Leader of the race the day before, the Spaniard was slowed down by problems with the rear axle, which required almost an hour of repairs at the side of the track. The three-time winner of the Dakar cedes control to his best enemy, Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota).

Despite an equally considerable loss of time (20 minutes), the defending champion and four-time Dakar winner escapes at the head of the 2023 Dakar with a 13' margin over Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Toyota) and 20'45'' over Stéphane Peterhansel (Audi). The latter, handicapped by headaches linked to a helmet that was too small the day before, is another big beneficiary of this day.

Note the excellent performance of the French Simon Vitse and Frédéric Lefebvre. Aboard their MD Rally buggy, the independent crew is at the foot of the podium in the general classification, right in the middle of the factory structures or much more powerful.

Rankings to come…

ALSO READ > Stage 3 of the Dakar stopped due to weather

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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