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Nasser Al-Attiyah Addresses FIA President Over Dakar Rally Grievances
Dacia Sandriders driver Nasser Al-Attiyah has approached FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem with concerns stemming from this year’s Dakar Rally.
Al-Attiyah, a five-time winner of the prestigious event, expressed dissatisfaction following a 10-minute penalty he received despite finishing fastest in Stage 5. A lost spare wheel cost him a substantial lead of 9 minutes and 59 seconds, ultimately leaving him just one second short of winning the stage.
Additionally, Al-Attiyah expressed his discontent regarding the FIA’s decision to prevent notable competitors Carlos Sainz and Sebastien Loeb from continuing the rally following their rollover incidents within the first four stages. The damage sustained by their vehicles, including critical roll cage issues, meant they could not resume racing as per FIA regulations.
Facing this mounting frustration, Al-Attiyah confirmed to reporters that he had indeed sent a letter to Ben Sulayem. In his correspondence, he emphasized the necessity to advocate for his team’s position regarding the penalty, calling the ten-minute deduction a mistake. He stated, “We are working for this situation to change—not to change, but to ensure the right people are involved.”
When questioned about his enjoyment of the event, Al-Attiyah remarked, “I don’t enjoy it. No, I don’t enjoy Dakar, I’m just going day by day, but every time something strange happens, I’m not enjoying at all.”
He elaborated on the need for a fair competition, saying, “When you come to the race, you need to enjoy. You don’t need to have politics in the middle or something that’s not fair. When you put a rule in place, it should be final. You shouldn’t be changing things daily. We are not in school.”
In Stage 7, Al-Attiyah finished just under 12 minutes behind stage winner Lucas Moraes. The stage was notably impacted by a 20-kilometer neutralization due to a roadbook error, with the event director even flying out in a helicopter to assist teams in navigating the situation.
Current Standings and Future Prospects
As a result of his performances, Al-Attiyah finds himself 21 minutes and 57 seconds behind Henk Lategan in the overall standings. When asked about the possibility of securing a sixth Dakar win, he remained noncommittal, stating, “I do not know. But maybe, in the end, I can win. So far I have not won on a stage, I go day by day, we’ll see.”
He further noted, “Twenty minutes is nothing; we still have five days left. We will try to do our best every day, and I will strive to climb up the standings.”
Highlights from Dakar Rally Stage 7
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