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Yazeed Al-Rajhi Claims Unexpected Victory at Dakar Rally

Yazeed Al-Rajhi has secured a remarkable win in the Dakar Rally, overcoming the challenges posed by factory Toyota competitor Henk Lategan. Driving for Overdrive in a customer Hilux, Al-Rajhi’s triumph reflects a significant achievement in this year’s event.

The 47th iteration of the Dakar Rally saw major shifts as newcomers like Ford and Dacia worked to establish themselves in cross-country rallying, while last year’s champion Audi exited the competition. With this backdrop, the contest became largely a showcase for Toyota, which entered five factory-supported vehicles into the race.

For a considerable part of the rally, Lategan, the South African driver, maintained a lead over Al-Rajhi with consistent performances that highlighted his ability to manage the course effectively. Despite Al-Rajhi’s superior speed, Lategan’s solid pacing allowed him to hold the top position for most of the rally.

However, a critical navigation mistake by Lategan during the ninth stage in Haradh shifted the momentum, granting Al-Rajhi a vital opportunity. Lategan had previously demonstrated his capabilities by winning the eighth stage, but his inability to navigate the more complex dunes cost him dearly as the rally progressed deeper into the Empty Quarters desert.

The pivotal moment arrived on the penultimate day. An underwhelming performance from Lategan allowed Al-Rajhi to seize the lead, which he sustained through to the end of Friday’s stages. His resilience was particularly evident in the 48-hour test in Bisha, which had previously thwarted him and forced a retirement last year. Although his provisional result was later adjusted in favor of teammate Rokas Baciuska, it affirmed his status as Lategan’s fiercest contender.

There were challenges throughout the rally, including a slower execution during Stage 10, where Al-Rajhi lost valuable time to Lategan. Nevertheless, his strong recovery in the subsequent stage allowed him to win the rally with a final gap of just 3 minutes and 57 seconds.

Third place went to Mattias Ekstrom, who finished 20 minutes and 21 seconds behind the leader. This marked a successful debut for Ford in the Dakar, especially following Carlos Sainz Sr’s early withdrawal due to a crash on Stage 2 that left the team without one of its iconic drivers. Ekstrom consistently proved his mettle, culminating in a stage win on Stage 11, underscoring Ford’s performance throughout the rally.

In the absence of Sebastien Loeb, who withdrew due to car damage, Nasser Al-Attiyah managed to finish fourth in a Dacia, albeit after facing penalties and navigational setbacks that hindered his chances for a podium finish. Despite these challenges, he showcased impressive speed but found it difficult to secure a top spot against the competitors.

Also noteworthy was Mitch Guthrie Jr, who established a commendable fifth-place finish on his debut in the Ultimate category, crediting this success to the solid performance of his teammate Ekstrom.

Other participants such as Mathieu Serradori and Joao Ferreira made solid showings, with Ferreira finishing eighth overall and marking a positive turn for the X-raid team, which had made significant updates to its Mini entries by switching to petrol engines this year.

Dakar 2025 – Cars Classification (Top 10)

The Dakar Rally continues to showcase the tenacity and skill of its participants, emphasizing the blend of strategy and speed crucial for success in this grueling event. Al-Rajhi’s victory not only highlights the potential of privateer teams but also underscores the competitive spirit that defines the Dakar Rally.

Source
www.autosport.com