DAKAR Stage 6 Part 1

 

FOCUS

Dunes galore were on the programme in the Empty Quarter, through which the competitors are passing
during two days as part of a new stage format: 48 hours chrono. Over a special totalling 547 kilometres
for the FIA crews and 625 km for the FIM riders, each competitor had to stop at 4 pm at one of the seven
bivouacs dotted along the route. In the Empty Quarter, the conditions are nothing like anywhere else
and the amount of soft sand to be swallowed up under the wheels has multiple consequences, for
example on fuel consumption, which the competitors must know how to gauge. Unfortunately, that was
something that Pablo Quintanilla was unable to do. The most advanced riders and drivers on the stage
map will not necessarily be tomorrow’s winners, but so far the dunes have been tamed in the best
possible way by Adrien Van Beveren on his bike and Carlos Sainz in his car. They respectively have 112
km and 149 km left in order to complete this loop back to Shubaytah as winners.

OUTLINE

When racing through the dunes, the ability to climb and to get over them is not the be all and end all. It
may seem obvious, but it’s essential to take mechanical aspects into account as well, and that starts
with a basic parameter: managing how much fuel you have. Pablo Quintanilla, who ran out of fuel ten
kilometres before the first refuelling point, paid a hefty price for his negligence and, after 424 km, has
dropped down the rankings by more than 1 hour and 40 minutes. Several of his team-mates on the
Honda team, for whom he will now be able to act as a water (or petrol!) carrier, were wiser as well as
more efficient and can still envisage triumphing in Yanbu, notably Ricky Brabec who is now the virtual
leader of the general rankings with an advantage of 2’48’’ over Ross Branch. However, the same can
be said for Nacho Cornejo and Adrien Van Beveren, the day’s quickest rider up to point F, located
after 537 kilometres, where ten bikers will be spending the night tonight. The car category also held a
number of plot twists in store and it was firstly Yazeed Al Rajhi, due to his need for speed, who lost
command of the general rankings, and can now kiss goodbye to triumph on the 2024 edition, after 51
km (see A crushing blow). Much further along the route of the special, Stéphane Peterhansel fell foul
of mechanical problems that bitterly punctuate the careers of even the greatest champions: following a
simple puncture, he had to stop his Audi after 256 km but the failure of his hydraulic system prevented
rapid repairs and also led to his power steering giving up the ghost. With already 2 hours and 8 minutes
lost, it has been a tough day for ‘Mister Dakar’! Nevertheless, the Audi clan acquitted themselves with
honour on the first part of the 48 HR Chrono stage, because Carlos Sainz put himself in an ideal position
to resume racing tomorrow morning (see Performance of the day) and Mattias Ekström achieved the
second-best intermediate time, putting him in second place in the general rankings, around 16 minutes
behind his road captain. The armada of RS Q e-Tron cars can still keep their hopes up in spite of
Peterhansel’s problems, though they will be hoping that tomorrow’s sand will not clog up the progress
of their smooth-running machine, all the more so given that Nasser Al Attiyah and Sébastien Loeb,
who was slightly more discreet today, will be present and determined to keep them under pressure.
In the Challenger class, Eryk Goczał took advantage of the dunes to increase his lead over Mitch
Guthrie (who trails by 56 minutes in the virtual general rankings), whilst in the SSV category, the Polaris
drivers Florent Vayssade and Xavier de Soultrait enjoyed a profitable day, but will have to wait and
see how the very threatening João Ferreira, who finished the day at rest point C (after 347 km),
performs tomorrow on the second part of the stage. Finally, Martin Macík gained the upper hand over
Janus van Kasteren in the truck race, a category in which there are also 200 kilometres left to go
tomorrow for the majority of the favourites.

 

PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY

The gamble seems to have paid off for Carlos Sainz, who yesterday manoeuvred himself into the right
place to get away in good position and put in one of his customary performances on the Dakar. As the
17th car to start the day, the Spaniard was able to demonstrate the effectiveness of a driving style that
has remained intact since his days as world rally champion, and which has been adapted to the dunes
by almost twenty years‘ experience on the Dakar, since 2006 precisely. “El Matador”, a three-times
winner of the race, gained a lead of 4’31’’ over his team-mate Mattias Ekström and 5’19’’ over
Sébastien Loeb, which opens the door for him to a 43rd stage win on the Dakar and also the possibility
of reaching the rest day at the front of the race.

A CRUSHING BLOW

He assuredly looked to have what it takes to tackle the major stage in the Empty Quarter like a boss:
familiarity with the terrain, nearby to which he accomplished victory on the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
last February; the status of general rankings leader, calmly achieved in among the rocks; and a starting
position, in 4th to be precise, which boded well for the big challenge of the 48 HR Chrono stage. Indeed,
it was not in the dunes where fate struck the hopes of Yazeed Al Rajhi, but in between two portions
separated by a large chott where he wanted to test the potential power of his Toyota Hilux. However,
being too greedy is a bad habit on the Dakar: at full speed, a clump of camel grass or a simple bump in
the terrain turned the tracks into a take-off strip for his car, which barrel-rolled, putting it immediately out
of service. The Saudi was taken back to the start of the special and has no guarantee of being able to
battle for more stages or help his Overdrive team colleagues from stage seven onwards, because his
badly damaged vehicle will have to comply with the technical and safety rules before being reintegrated
into the race after the rest day.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Stéphane Peterhansel: “I don’t know how we’re going to manage to pull through”
Stéphane Peterhansel had to deal with a number of technical problems. He replied to questions on
stopping after 256 km to repair a puncture: “We had a puncture and the hydraulic jack system started
playing up. We don’t have a hand jack so we don’t know how we’re going to change the wheel. With the
damage to the hydraulic system, I’ve lost the power steering and I don’t know how we’re going to
manage to pull through”

 

ERGEBNISSE / Results – BIKES

POS. EXP. DRIVE-TEAM TEAM TIME VARIATION PENALITY
1 42 MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 07H 57′ 29“
2 2
(AUS) TOBY PRICE
RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING 08H 01′ 42“ + 00H 04′ 13“
3 9 MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 08H 02′ 31“ + 00H 05′ 02“
4 5 RED BULL GASGAS FACTORY RACING 08H 04′ 24“ + 00H 06′ 55“
5 46 HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY 08H 07′ 09“ + 00H 09′ 40“
6 1 HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING 08H 08′ 08“ + 00H 10′ 39“
7 47 RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING 08H 13′ 34“ + 00H 16′ 05“
8 142 SLONAFT RALLY TEAM 08H 18′ 48“ + 00H 21′ 19“
9 11 MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 08H 19′ 18“ + 00H 21′ 49“ 00H 06′ 00“
10 76 DUUST RALLY TEAM 08H 23′ 53“ + 00H 26′ 24“

 

OVERALL – BIKES

POS. EXP. DRIVE-TEAM TEAM TIME VARIATION PENALITY
1 9 MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 27H 11′ 21“ 00H 01′ 00“
2 46 HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY 27H 12′ 12“ + 00H 00′ 51“ 00H 01′ 00“
3 42 MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 27H 20′ 42“ + 00H 09′ 21“
4 11 MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 27H 25′ 35“ + 00H 14′ 14“ 00H 06′ 00“
5 2
(AUS) TOBY PRICE
RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING 27H 38′ 21“ + 00H 27′ 00“
6 47 RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING 27H 39′ 54“ + 00H 28′ 33“
7 5 RED BULL GASGAS FACTORY RACING 27H 47′ 11“ + 00H 35′ 50“
8 1 HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING 27H 58′ 47“ + 00H 47′ 26“ 00H 15′ 00“
9 142 SLONAFT RALLY TEAM 28H 19′ 03“ + 01H 07′ 42“
10 76 DUUST RALLY TEAM 28H 43′ 03“ + 01H 31′ 42“

 

ERGEBNISSE / Results – Original by Motul

POS. EXP. DRIVE-TEAM TEAM TIME VARIATION PENALITY
1 37 ANQUETY MOTORSPORT 09H 13′ 42“
2 96 KINI RALLY RACING TEAM 09H 14′ 05“ + 00H 00′ 23“ 00H 06′ 00“
3 112 DAKAR 4 DAKAR 10H 18′ 26“ + 01H 04′ 44“ 00H 01′ 00“
4 97
(ECU) JUAN PUGA
JP1 KEWS DAKAR RALLY TEAM 10H 27′ 55“ + 01H 14′ 13“ 00H 19′ 00“
5 74 MÔLEAGRIFOREST / COMAS MOTOS 11H 03′ 27“ + 01H 49′ 45“
6 82 PEDREGA TEAM 11H 09′ 29“ + 01H 55′ 47“
7 61 SP MOTO BOHEMIA 11H 09′ 55“ + 01H 56′ 13“
8 104 TLDRACING 11H 37′ 01“ + 02H 23′ 19“

 

OVERALL – Original by Motul

POS. EXP. DRIVE-TEAM TEAM TIME VARIATION PENALITY
1 96 KINI RALLY RACING TEAM 30H 42′ 43“ 00H 22′ 00“
2 37 ANQUETY MOTORSPORT 31H 57′ 05“ + 01H 14′ 22“ 00H 15′ 00“
3 82 PEDREGA TEAM 34H 01′ 36“ + 03H 18′ 53“
4 112 DAKAR 4 DAKAR 35H 42′ 18“ + 04H 59′ 35“ 00H 07′ 00“
5 61 SP MOTO BOHEMIA 35H 47′ 21“ + 05H 04′ 38“ 00H 07′ 10“
6 97
(ECU) JUAN PUGA
JP1 KEWS DAKAR RALLY TEAM 36H 20′ 53“ + 05H 38′ 10“ 00H 21′ 00“
7 104 TLDRACING 38H 17′ 43“ + 07H 35′ 00“ 00H 15′ 00“
8 74 MÔLEAGRIFOREST / COMAS MOTOS 38H 31′ 30“ + 07H 48′ 47“ 00H 42′ 00“

 

ERGEBNISSE / Results – CARS

POS. EXP. DRIVE-TEAM TEAM TIME VARIATION PENALITY
1 203 BAHRAIN RAID XTREME 07H 21′ 56“
2 204
(ESP) LUCAS CRUZ
TEAM AUDI SPORT 07H 23′ 57“ + 00H 02′ 01“
3 207 TEAM AUDI SPORT 07H 32′ 51“ + 00H 10′ 55“
4 206 TOYOTA GAZOO RACING 07H 44′ 41“ + 00H 22′ 45“
5 302
(ESP) ORIOL MENA
ENERGYLANDIA RALLY TEAM 07H 50′ 44“ + 00H 28′ 48“
6 211 OVERDRIVE RACING 07H 56′ 01“ + 00H 34′ 05“
7 208 ORLEN JIPOCAR TEAM 07H 58′ 30“ + 00H 36′ 34“
8 209 TOYOTA GAZOO RACING 07H 59′ 00“ + 00H 37′ 04“
9 221 OVERDRIVE RACING 08H 03′ 24“ + 00H 41′ 28“ 00H 07′ 00“
10 310 ENERGYLANDIA RALLY TEAM 08H 06′ 29“ + 00H 44′ 33“

 

OVERALL – CARS

POS. EXP. DRIVE-TEAM TEAM TIME VARIATION PENALITY
1 204
(ESP) LUCAS CRUZ
TEAM AUDI SPORT 24H 59′ 32“ 00H 00′ 10“
2 207 TEAM AUDI SPORT 25H 19′ 53“ + 00H 20′ 21“ 00H 02′ 00“
3 203 BAHRAIN RAID XTREME 25H 29′ 03“ + 00H 29′ 31“ 00H 15′ 00“
4 206 TOYOTA GAZOO RACING 26H 03′ 32“ + 01H 04′ 00“
5 221 OVERDRIVE RACING 26H 09′ 19“ + 01H 09′ 47“ 00H 09′ 00“
6 209 TOYOTA GAZOO RACING 26H 24′ 48“ + 01H 25′ 16“
7 208 ORLEN JIPOCAR TEAM 26H 34′ 36“ + 01H 35′ 04“
8 212 CENTURY RACING FACTORY TEAM 26H 51′ 52“ + 01H 52′ 20“ 00H 15′ 00“
9 302
(ESP) ORIOL MENA
ENERGYLANDIA RALLY TEAM 26H 52′ 02“ + 01H 52′ 30“
10 243 TOYOTA GAZOO RACING 26H 54′ 13“ + 01H 54′ 41“ 00H 06′ 10“

 

ERGEBNISSE / Results – CHALLENGER

POS. EXP. DRIVE-TEAM TEAM TIME VARIATION PENALITY
1 302
(ESP) ORIOL MENA
ENERGYLANDIA RALLY TEAM 07H 50′ 44“
2 310 ENERGYLANDIA RALLY TEAM 08H 06′ 29“ + 00H 15′ 45“
3 306 RED BULL OFF-ROAD JR TEAM USA BY BFG 08H 09′ 40“ + 00H 18′ 56“
4 301 CAN-AM FACTORY TEAM 08H 13′ 04“ + 00H 22′ 20“
5 303 TAURUS FACTORY TEAM 08H 13′ 16“ + 00H 22′ 32“ 00H 02′ 00“
6 300 CAN-AM FACTORY TEAM 08H 14′ 06“ + 00H 23′ 22“
7 311 DARK HORSE TEAM 08H 25′ 49“ + 00H 35′ 05“ 00H 05′ 00“
8 312 TAURUS FACTORY TEAM 08H 33′ 22“ + 00H 42′ 38“ 00H 15′ 00“
9 305 CAN-AM FACTORY TEAM 08H 35′ 44“ + 00H 45′ 00“ 00H 15′ 00“
10 336 DAKARTEAM SPIERINGS 08H 57′ 50“ + 01H 07′ 06“

 

OVERALL – CHALLENGER

POS. EXP. DRIVE-TEAM TEAM TIME VARIATION PENALITY
1 302
(ESP) ORIOL MENA
ENERGYLANDIA RALLY TEAM 26H 52′ 02“
2 303 TAURUS FACTORY TEAM 27H 54′ 20“ + 01H 02′ 18“ 00H 19′ 00“
3 306 RED BULL OFF-ROAD JR TEAM USA BY BFG 28H 18′ 36“ + 01H 26′ 34“ 00H 15′ 00“
4 301 CAN-AM FACTORY TEAM 28H 18′ 54“ + 01H 26′ 52“
5 305 CAN-AM FACTORY TEAM 28H 42′ 14“ + 01H 50′ 12“ 00H 15′ 00“
6 310 ENERGYLANDIA RALLY TEAM 28H 57′ 00“ + 02H 04′ 58“
7 300 CAN-AM FACTORY TEAM 29H 12′ 15“ + 02H 20′ 13“ 00H 04′ 00“
8 312 TAURUS FACTORY TEAM 29H 33′ 57“ + 02H 41′ 55“ 00H 45′ 00“
9 315 MMP 30H 59′ 32“ + 04H 07′ 30“ 00H 15′ 30“
10 311 DARK HORSE TEAM 31H 27′ 27“ + 04H 35′ 25“ 00H 05′ 00“

 

ERGEBNISSE / Results – SSV

POS. EXP. DRIVE-TEAM TEAM TIME VARIATION PENALITY
1 411 SEBASTIEN LOEB RACING – BARDAHL TEAM 08H 25′ 10“
2 408 MMP 08H 26′ 15“ + 00H 01′ 05“
3 400 CAN-AM FACTORY TEAM 08H 28′ 45“ + 00H 03′ 35“
4 419
(USA) SARA PRICE
SOUTH RACING CAN-AM 08H 31′ 47“ + 00H 06′ 37“ 00H 01′ 00“
5 405 SEBASTIEN LOEB RACING – BARDAHL TEAM 08H 34′ 35“ + 00H 09′ 25“ 00H 15′ 00“
6 420 MMP 09H 01′ 45“ + 00H 36′ 35“ 00H 00′ 40“
7 402 SOUTH RACING CAN-AM 09H 04′ 54“ + 00H 39′ 44“
8 409 FN SPEED TEAM 09H 08′ 20“ + 00H 43′ 10“ 00H 17′ 00“
9 426 RENTWAY DAKAR TEAM 10H 16′ 02“ + 01H 50′ 52“ 00H 15′ 00“
10 404 MMP 10H 24′ 19“ + 01H 59′ 09“ 00H 15′ 00“

 

OVERALL – SSV

POS. EXP. DRIVE-TEAM TEAM TIME VARIATION PENALITY
1 408 MMP 29H 50′ 16“ 00H 00′ 20“
2 419
(USA) SARA PRICE
SOUTH RACING CAN-AM 29H 58′ 24“ + 00H 08′ 08“ 00H 01′ 10“
3 411 SEBASTIEN LOEB RACING – BARDAHL TEAM 30H 00′ 56“ + 00H 10′ 40“ 00H 01′ 00“
4 400 CAN-AM FACTORY TEAM 30H 12′ 55“ + 00H 22′ 39“
5 420 MMP 30H 15′ 27“ + 00H 25′ 11“ 00H 01′ 00“
6 409 FN SPEED TEAM 31H 22′ 31“ + 01H 32′ 15“ 00H 17′ 20“
7 405 SEBASTIEN LOEB RACING – BARDAHL TEAM 33H 42′ 12“ + 03H 51′ 56“ 00H 15′ 00“
8 402 SOUTH RACING CAN-AM 34H 25′ 19“ + 04H 35′ 03“
9 404 MMP 35H 08′ 21“ + 05H 18′ 05“ 00H 15′ 30“
10 426 RENTWAY DAKAR TEAM 37H 12′ 53“ + 07H 22′ 37“ 00H 16′ 20′

 

ERGEBNISSE / Results – TRUCKS

POS. EXP. DRIVE-TEAM TEAM TIME VARIATION PENALITY
1 601 MM TECHNOLOGY TEAM 08H 35′ 53“ 00H 01′ 10“
2 603 EUROL RALLYSPORT 09H 41′ 34“ + 01H 05′ 41“ 00H 15′ 00“
3 602 INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS PRAGA 09H 48′ 33“ + 01H 12′ 40“ 00H 15′ 00“

 

OVERALL – TRUCKS

POS. EXP. DRIVE-TEAM TEAM TIME VARIATION PENALITY
1 601 MM TECHNOLOGY TEAM 28H 59′ 18“ 00H 33′ 40“
2 602 INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS PRAGA 30H 16′ 00“ + 01H 16′ 42“ 00H 20′ 00“
3 603 EUROL RALLYSPORT 30H 49′ 17“ + 01H 49′ 59“ 00H 17′ 00“

 

ERGEBNISSE / Results – CLASSIC

Coming soon…

OVERALL – CLASSIC

Coming soon…

FULL RESULTS / ALLE ERGEBNISSE: LINK

GALLERY STAGE 6 Part 1

Quelle / Source: DAKAR, A.S.O