Dakar 2024 – Stage 6a: Carlos Sainz leading, several favorites out of the race
The first part of the 6th stage named "48 Hours Chrono" caused significant damage and created important gaps in the overall standings.
It’s the big novelty of this Dakar 2024. A stage of 781 kilometers (572 of which are special stages) contested over two days through the Empty Quarter, this immense expanse of sand in southeastern Saudi Arabia. Everyone had chosen their strategy to face the different sand dune ridges. While some had been cautious the day before to set off with pre-made tracks in front of them, others had not calculated and went for the win the day before.
This was notably the case for Yazeed Al Rajhi. Fourth yesterday, the Saudi driver and his co-pilot Timo Gottschalk saw their hopes of victory crushed in a series of barrel rolls at kilometer 51. More fear than harm for the crew, who escaped unharmed, but their Dakar journey is now very much compromised.
Another victim of the day, the duo Stéphane Peterhansel/Edouard Boulanger. At kilometer 225, the French team’s Audi was halted by a puncture. Nothing too serious at first glance, but the hydraulic jack was damaged in the process. Without a manual jack available, the German off-road vehicle couldn’t be lifted to allow the crew to change the tire. A lot of time lost for Monsieur Dakar and a potential 15th victory slipping away from him.
However, it is the other two Audis that are currently leading this 6th stage. Carlos Sainz and Matthias Ekström have delivered a magnificent performance. The Spaniard currently has a 4’31” lead over his Swedish teammate. The third man of the day is named Sébastien Loeb. Bold in his strategy yesterday, the Frenchman and his Belgian co-driver Fabian Lurquin are trailing Sainz by 5’19.
Now let’s move on to the second part of this 6th stage and head back to Shubaytah before a well-deserved rest day for the Dakar competitors.
