Dakar 2024 – Stage 3: Lucas Moraes takes the win, Sébastien Loeb loses ground

Just two days after Alula’s departure, this Dakar 2024 has already brought us numerous surprises, and this third stage, covering 733 kilometers (438 of which are special stages) between Al Duwadimi and Al Salamiya, was no exception to the rule.

The main victim of the day is named Sébastien Loeb. Once again a victim of three punctures, the Alsatian and his co-driver Fabian Lurquin had to repair their damaged wheel themselves in order to finish the stage, knowing that each crew can carry only two spare wheels. Over twenty minutes lost for the number 203 Hunter.

Even if the bill is much less costly for Nasser Al-Attiyah, the Qatari driver also fell victim to three punctures on this stage. But unlike Loeb, the two-time defending champion, he and his co-driver Mathieu Baumel decided to reach the finish line on the rim. Leading at the penultimate checkpoint, Al-Attiyah ultimately lost a minute and thirty seconds to the day’s winner.

This one is named Lucas Moraes. Promoted to the Toyota factory team, the Brazilian, third in the 2023 edition, won his first stage in the Dakar with just nine seconds ahead of Mattias Ekström’s Audi, and a little over a minute ahead of Yazeed Al Rajhi’s Toyota. The Saudi takes advantage of this to take the overall lead ahead of the two Audis of Sainz and Ekström.

Winner yesterday, Stéphane Peterhansel finished 9th in the stage after receiving a four-minute penalty for speeding in a speed-limited zone. However, he remains in the overall competition with a twenty-two minute delay behind the leader.

Stage 3 Ranking

General ranking