Abu Dhabi – Stage 2: Sébastien Loeb winner and new general leader

• Sébastien Loeb is now a stage winner in 2025! The Alsatian won Stage 2 of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, his first victory of the year. After a failed Dakar, with a retirement in the first week of racing, the Frenchman made up for it in Abu Dhabi and signed his second success with Dacia (after Stage 3 of the Rally of Morocco 2024). The nine-time world champion WRC takes the lead in the general classification at the same time.
• On this 228-kilometre loop around Mezeer'ah, Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin – who started in second position at the start – managed their stage perfectly despite the lack of tracks. The Frenchman leads a Dacia one-two since Nasser Al-Attiyah posted the 2nd fastest time on this special, 1'37 behind his teammate. This is the first one-two for the Romanian manufacturer on a stage since its arrival in rally-raid. Lucas Moraes (Toyota), leader of the general classification at the start of the 2nd stage, completes the Top 3 of the special with 1'42 behind the Alsatian.
• The big loser of the day is called Saood Variawa: the South African, 5th in the general classification at the end of the first stage, lost big minutes due to a problem with his gearbox. Stopped at km 138, the South African lost all hope of a podium in Abu Dhabi.
• In the general classification, Sébastien Loeb takes the lead with a 41-second lead over Lucas Moraes and a 2'52 lead over Nasser Al-Attiyah. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Toyota), the last winner of the Dakar, lost another 4'45 this Monday and is now in 9th place overall, 11'58 behind the new leader. Guillaume de Mévius (Mini), 7th in Stage 2, is in 5th place overall, 8'20 behind.

W2RC – Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
Step 2 – Ranking

General classification after Stage 2

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