Toyota: Deserved first Dakar victory 🎥
SOUVEREN Nasser Al-Attiyah from Qatar gave Toyota its first victory in the Dakar Rally in Peru. He himself had previously won once each with Volkswagen and Mini. The 48-year-old desert fox from the United Arab Emirates did not show the slightest sign of weakness in his 15th start in the world's most difficult rally. With Frenchman Mathieu [...]
The 48-year-old desert fox from the United Arab Emirates did not show the slightest sign of weakness in his 15th start in the world's most difficult rally. With Frenchman Mathieu Baumel in the passenger seat of the Toyota Hilux V8 entered by Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa, Nasser Al-Attiyah already won the first stage on January 7. On the second stage, in eleventh place, he lost around eight minutes to the front runner, which he retook on the following day and never relinquished.
Regularly fast and error free
The Toyota duo took a total of three stage wins and was second twice. Thanks to regularity, they steadily extended their lead. After ten daily stages and around 5,500 kilometers covered, their lead over the Spaniards Nani Roma/Alex Bravo on a Mini John Cooper Works Rally from the semi-official X-Raid Mini Team was 46 minutes and 42 seconds.
For Nasser Al-Attiyah, this is the third Dakar victory with three different brands. In 2011 the Qatari won with Volkswagen Motorsport and in 2015 with X-Raid Mini.
Nasser Al-Attiyah: "It went fantastically. We didn't make a single mistake, although the rally was very, very difficult for everyone. It was good that I was able to control my opponents from the front from the third stage onwards. If you have to attack, you risk more mistakes. I'm particularly happy for Toyota, who have now finally won the Dakar Rally."
From the Dakar to the Monte
Third place overall and victory in the rear-wheel drive diesel cars went to Sébastien Loeb and his faithful co-driver Daniel Elena in a Peugeot 3008DKR from PH-Sport. Although they took four stage wins and were in the lead after the second day of the rally.
However, having been in second position, they lost a lot of time on the seventh and ninth stages (the drive shaft had to be changed twice) and thus fell behind the best Mini team. After Loeb failed again at the fourth attempt, he now wants to win again next week at the Rally Monte Carlo, which he is contesting for the first time with Hyundai.
Out for Peterhansel
Record winner Stéphane Peterhansel celebrated his 75th stage victory in a Dakar Rally on the third day. The 41st edition of the race, which for the first time was held in only one country, ended for the Frenchman in the ninth stage.
After a big jump over a dune, his co-driver David Castera was flown by helicopter to the hospital with severe back pain, where fortunately no injuries were found.
Swiss success
The only Swiss driver in the car field achieved a respectable success. Rémy Vauthier from Geneva and his French co-driver took second place in their class (T1.3) of rear-wheel-drive gasoline vehicles and 19th overall with an Optimus desert buggy. For the 63-year-old architect, it was the second start after 2015 and the first finish.
