Dakar 2024 – Sébastien Loeb, penalties that change nothing

Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin (Bahrain Raid Xtreme) leave the podium of the 2024 Dakar in Yanbu (Saudi Arabia) on a bittersweet note. The Franco-Belgian duo received a note from the race stewards this Friday afternoon, who decided to impose a 7-minute penalty on them.

This decision was taken as a result of an infraction noted during the 11th and penultimate special, between Al-Ula and Yanbu. “The on-board video received by the stewards shows without doubt that the crew of car no. 203 (the Prodrive Hunter T1+ from Loeb-Lurquin. Editor’s note) failed to fasten his safety harness correctly for a total of approximately 42 seconds in the 11th stage, while the vehicle was moving, the commissioners wrote. A similar offense was committed four times (the first time the duration was 18 seconds, the second time – 6 seconds, the third time – 6 seconds and the fourth time – 12 seconds). »

 

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However, the sporting regulations of the World Championship of rally-raid (W2RC) is clear. “ The sporting regulations for cross-country rallies are very clear in article 47.1: Each time a vehicle is in motion on any type of selective section and until the stop check, the crew must wear approved helmets. , all clothing and safety equipment required in accordance with Appendix L Chapter III – Driver Equipment, as provided by the equipment manufacturer, and have their seat belts properly fastened. »

This is the second time that Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin have violated this article of the regulations during this Dakar Rally 2024. During the 10th special, they received a 1-minute penalty for driving without having fastened the safety harness for 12 seconds.

In the end, these two sanctions are added to the 15 minutes voluntarily taken by the future Dacia crew in 2025 during Stage 5 (way-point missed so as not to have to open the following special). Another one-minute sanction was awarded following a speeding violation of 3 km/h in a control zone (36 versus 30 km/h). This gives a total penalty of 21 minutes on the overall racing time of Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin on the 2024 Dakar.

Nothing to change their final position: still third, 1h29 behind the winners Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz (Audi) and 9 minutes behind Guillaume de Mévius and Xavier Panseri (Toyota).

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