Find out which drivers and riders have made the headlines so far in Saudi Arabia ahead of the final week.
The 46th edition of the Dakar Rally has been another entertaining affair so far in Saudi Arabia with the best global rally-raid drivers and riders going all out to win and keep their vehicles in the world’s toughest race across the Middle-East country’s arduous dunes and rocky terrain.
With Spanish legend Carlos Sainz (Ultimate), Poland’s Eryk Goczal (Challenger) and American Ricky Brabec (Bike) all leading at Saturday’s much needed rest day, here are the 10 best moments from the 2024 Dakar Rally so far with the race set to finish on Friday, February 19:
1) DAY 1, PROLOGUE: Fighting back from a big recent injury, Australian Daniel Sanders piloted his Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing bike to a prologue second just 12 seconds behind Spaniard Tosha Schareina. Sanders, who finished fourth overall as a rookie back in 2021, declared: “It was rough with so much traffic in front. I tried to follow the roadbook and just made one mistake near the finish.”
2) DAY 2, STAGE 1: One family dominated the Challenger class with 19-year-old Eryk Goczal leading home uncle Michal Goczal and father Marek to park their MCE-5 Taurus machines at the top of the leaderboard. A little over 26 minutes back sits three-time quad race champion Ignacio Casale.
3) DAY 3, STAGE 2: Audi RS Q e-tron driver Stéphane Peterhansel powered to a record-equalling 50th stage win on four wheels to add to his 33 stage wins in the Bike class. The 58-year-old Frenchman, who equalled Finnish legend Ari Vatanen’s car record, said: “It was a much better day than yesterday and it was a pleasure to drive. The settings on the car were really good and to take a stage victory is always nice.”
4) DAY 3, STAGE 2: In the Bike class, Luciano Benavides showed the speed that saw him crowned the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship winner in 2023, thanks in part to winning the Desafío Ruta 40 in his native Argentina. The 28-year-old rode his Husqvarna to second place on the stage to break into the top five, just two seconds ahead of Sanders.
5) DAY 4, STAGE 3: Another mammoth challenge awaited with a huge variety of terrain covered on the special stage. One person who will not forget it in a hurry is Brazilian Lucas Moraes, who claimed his first Ultimate category stage victory driving the Toyota GR DKR Hilux with co-driver Armand Monleon. Moraes, 32, said: “I dedicate this victory to my daughter who has been in hospital the last four days, but now she’s better. It was very tough for me being away from home but now this win means a lot.”
6) DAY 5, STAGE 4: Birthday boy Kevin Benavides put together an impressive performance for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team as he piloted his bike to third on Tuesday, so he could blow out the candles on his 35th birthday cake placed fourth overall – 20 minutes and 39 seconds behind Chilean leader Jose Ignacio Cornejo. The Argentine said: “At the refuelling, I saw I had a big cut in my rear tyre, so that was a little bit scary. I took care of the problem and finally arrived to the finish.”
7) DAY 6, STAGE 5: Defending champion Nasser Al-Attiyah moved up the overall Ultimate classification finally after he adapted to his Prodrive Hunter car and he banked his first Dakar stage win in the new vehicle on Wednesday, after he broke clear to win by nearly two minutes. The 53-year-old Qatari revealed: “Today, I knew I needed to win the stage.”
8) DAY 7, STAGE 6: Thursday’s leg of the all-new 48-hour Chrono Stage mixed up the order in the Ultimate category as Spanish legend Carlos Sainz went on the attack over the 250-metre-high dunes of the Empty Quarter desert. The three-time Dakar winner eased off on Wednesday to give himself a good starting position and it worked a treat as he passed main rival Al-Attiyah – who had opened the stage – and also claimed the overall lead after Saudi driver Yazeed Al Rajhi barrel rolled on the dunes.
9) DAY 8, STAGE 6: American Mitch Guthrie Jr.’s mission for the second week is clear, chip away at the time that separates him from Challenger class leader Goczal after he held his nerve to finish fifth in Friday’s stage – 22m 32s behind the Polish driver. Also looking to reel in Goczal on the way to Yanbu are Cristina Gutiérrez, Chaleco López and Austin ‘AJ’ Jones.
10) DAY 8, STAGE 6: It has been a determined effort throughout the first week by two-time bike champion Toby Price to stay in touch with the leaders. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider reached the Rest Day with a string of three top-five stage results to put himself fifth overall with half of the rally still to go, less than half an hour behind current leader Brabec.
- 2024 Dakar Rally overall standings after Stage 6
- Ultimate Car
- 1. Carlos Sainz (ESP) 24h 59m 32s
- 2. Mattias Ekström (SWE) +20m 21s
- 3. Sébastien Loeb (FRA) +29m 31s
- Challenger Car
- 1. Eryk Goczal (POL) 26h 52m 02s
- 2. Mitch Guthrie Jr. (USA) +1h 02m 18s
- 3. Cristina Gutiérrez (ESP) +1h 26m 34s
- Bike
- 1. Ricky Brabec (USA) 27h 11m 21s
- 2. Ross Branch (BWA) +51s
- 3. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA) +9m 21s
- Ultimate Car
