Dakar 2024 – Stage 9: Sébastien Loeb claws back time on Carlos Sainz in the overall standings
Winner of his fourth stage on this Dakar Rally, the non-two-time world rally champion has made up the lost ground of the previous day and is now twenty minutes behind Carlos Sainz in the overall standings.
Trapped by a navigation mistake during the 8th stage, Sébastien Loeb and his co-driver Fabian Lurquin set things right during the 9th stage, which took the competitors from Ha’il to Alula over 639 kilometers (417 of which were a special stage).
Winner of their fourth stage on this 2024 edition of the Dakar, the Franco-Belgian duo takes advantage to reclaim four minutes from Spanish leaders Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz. Despite two punctures, the Prodrive Hunter from Bahrain Raid Xtreme team once again showed that it was a beast in the Saudi Arabian dunes and rocky terrain.
On the Audi side, they had chosen to drive as a team. Yesterday, Mattias Ekström and Stéphane Peterhansel, who were in first and second place, decided to wait for the overall leader in order to assist him if needed. The Swede thus cleared the track for his teammate while the Frenchman took on the role of a luxury bodyguard for the Madrilene.
Also worth noting is the magnificent performance of Mathieu Serradori and Loïc Minaudier behind the wheel of their Century two-wheel drive CR6-T. Third in today’s stage and sixth overall, the French duo once again proves that they are a reliable force in the world of rally-raid.
With a twenty-minute lead over Sébastien Loeb in the overall standings three stages before the finish in Yanbu, Carlos Sainz is getting closer each day to his fourth victory in the Dakar. His immense experience in motorsport serves as a reminder that nothing is yet decided, especially with a driver behind him who dreams of winning the ultimate rally-raid event for the first time.
Ranking Stage 9
| Concurrents | Team | Times / Gaps | |
| 1 | Loeb / Lurquin | Bahraïn Raid Xtreme | 04:17:33 |
| 2 | Sainz / Cruz | Team Audi Sport | +00:04:14 |
| 3 | Serradori / Minaudier | Century Racing Factory Team | +00:04:43 |
| 4 | De Mevius / Panseri | Overdrive Racing | +00:09:52 |
| 5 | Botterill / Cummings | Toyota Gazoo Racing | +00:10:01 |
Overall ranking
| Concurrents | Team | Times / Gaps | |
| 1 | Sainz / Cruz | Team Audi Sport | 37:50:57 |
| 2 | Loeb / Lurquin | Bahrain Raid Xtreme | +00:20:33 |
| 3 | Moraes / Monleon | Toyota Gazoo Racing | +01:12:02 |
| 4 | De Mevius / Panseri | Overdrive Racing | +01:39:56 |
| 5 | De Villiers / Murphy | Toyota Gazoo Racing | +02:00:12 |
