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De Mevius takes Dakar’s lead after the first stage, while Loeb and Al-Attiyah lose time
After winning Saturday’s difficult first stage in Saudi Arabia, the Toyota driver Guillaume de Mevius (29) of Belgium surprised everyone by taking the lead in the Dakar Rally. Meanwhile, favorites Sebastien Loeb (49) and Nasser Al-Attiyah (53) encountered difficulties.
De Mevius finished one minute and forty-four seconds ahead of Audi’s second-placed Spaniard Carlos Sainz after the 414-kilometer stage from Al’Ula to Al Henakiyah.
Giniel de Villiers of Toyota, a South African, finished third overall but was nine minutes and eighteen seconds behind the lead.
“I’m quite surprised, to be honest; we drove smart and avoided punctures, which was the key today. But I’m quite surprised to finish so high up,” stated de Mevius.
Al-Attiyah, the current champion, and Loeb, the nine-time world rally champion, who were both driving Prodrive Hunters, were the day’s big losers.
Al-Attiyah, the winner of the last two years and a five-time Dakar champion, was in 21st place, more than 22 minutes behind Frenchman Loeb, who was in 18th place.
“In the first 50km, we had two punctures and cannot push. We just tried to manage (to reach) the finish,” stated Al-Attiyah. 24hscore
Dakar record holder Stephane Peterhansel, a 14-time winner on two wheels and four, finished 23rd. The first car’s start was delayed due to an incident with a spectator, who was hospitalized, 200 meters into the stage.
The motorcycle category witnessed an early surprise as Honda’s prologue winner Tosha Schareina retired with a broken left wrist after 240km. “I tried to pass Toby (Price) and I think I hit something with the rear wheel. I crashed at a slow speed but broke my wrist,” he explained.
Botswana’s Ross Branch, leading the motorcycle category, stopped to aid Schareina and was credited with lost time. He won the stage ahead of Americans Ricky Brabec and Mason Klein.
In the SSV category, Brazilian Rodrigo Varela led after starting in a borrowed car. His original vehicle faced delays as the ship carrying it had to alter its route to escape Houthi pirates in the Red Sea.
From Al Henakiyah to Al Duwadimi, the stage on Sunday is 463 kilometers long.
