SHAYBAH, Saudi Arabia — Nasser Al-Attiyah has come out of Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter cushioned by an enormous lead of an hour and a half going into the final weekend of the Dakar Rally.
Sebastien Loeb gained a uncommon fifth stage in a row on Friday and improved to second total. However he trailed Al-Attiyah by 1 hour, 27 minutes.
Lucas Moraes of Brazil, driving in his first Dakar, was a minute behind in third with two levels to go to the end on Sunday in Dammam.
“If we end within the high 5 every day, that is OK for me, we have now a sufficiently big lead,” Al-Attiyah mentioned.
The titleholder continued not desirous to race too exhausting, regardless that he completed third on the twelfth stage, the second a part of the marathon particular again to Shaybah from the Oman border. After 185 kilometers, Al-Attiyah conceded solely three-plus minutes to Loeb.
Loeb grew to become solely the second driver within the elite automobile class to win 5 straight levels, after Ari Vatanen in 1989. Mattias Ekstrom was second, greater than three minutes again.
“It was an ideal day; no errors, no stalling, no about turns,” Loeb mentioned. “Second place is our purpose, that is why we’re pushing. We have made a giant comeback. I did not suppose we would handle to climb again as much as second. I assumed we might get fifth place however three wonderful drivers like Carlos (Sainz), Stéphane (Peterhansel) and Yazeed (Al Rajhi) had been faraway from the equation. So, from then on, I used to be aiming for second place.”
Two-time champion Toby Value has timed his elevation to the motorcycle result in perfection.
He was third on the stage behind Nacho Cornejo, who beat dwelling Daniel Sanders by 49 seconds.
Value, thanks additionally to bonus time from opening the best way, changed Skyler Howes on high of the final rankings, 28 seconds forward.
Other than three levels, Value has been within the high three total. His Dakar wins in 2016 and 2019 had been each in South America.
“Making an attempt to have a technique for the race at this time limit is totally out of the window,” Value mentioned. “I’ve simply bought to remain on two wheels and keep wholesome. Tomorrow, I am going to try to push actually exhausting . . . however then once more you do not need to push too crazily and threat an damage or being out of the race fully this near the ending line.”
Howes, aiming for his first Dakar title, rued shedding seconds having to cease to pack a tracker.
“We’re combating for seconds on the market and any time you spend, actually three further seconds to place a tracker in your pocket, is simply further time, and people seconds rely,” he mentioned. “It is gnarly to be this shut after a lot racing, but it surely’s enjoyable.”
Kevin Benavides remained third, almost three minutes behind.
