Dakar 2024 – Ekström winner of the Prologue, Loeb in ambush and Sainz left behind

Dakar 2024 – Provisional prologue ranking (will be updated during the day):

• The Dakar 2024 begins this Friday January 5 with a long 27 km prologue. Unlike 2023, the course has some navigation and winding sections, making it a good playground before really starting the race. First of all, it is important to point out that the gaps recorded today do not count for the general classification of the race.
• The main interest of this prologue is to finish in the top 10. This evening they will be able to determine their starting order for the first stage of the 2024 Dakar. Beyond 10th place, the drivers keep their location determined by the result of the prologue.
• As in 2023, Mattias Ekström and Emil Bergkvist (Audi) set the best time in the prologue. The Swedish duo did much better than their illustrious teammates Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz. The Spaniards finished outside the top 20. As for the third hybrid Audi, that of Stéphane Peterhansel and Édouard Boulanger, it is in 7th place.
• Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin (BRX) set the third time, just behind the category rookies, Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz (Toyota).
• Several favorites missed the boat on this prologue. The outgoing winners Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel (Prodrive) appear beyond the top 10, as does Guerlain Chicherit (Overdrive). Big downside for the outgoing W2RC world vice-champion, Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Overdrive), who only recorded the 29th provisional time! Which means the Saudi will have to make his way through the dust thrown up by the 28 cars in front of him during the first stage.

More info to come.