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Dakar Rally: Carlos Sainz Sr Faces Challenges on Opening Stage

Veteran driver Carlos Sainz Sr has expressed his difficulties navigating the opening stage of the Dakar Rally, describing the experience as a significant challenge that harkens back to the event’s traditional essence. During the 431 km test around Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Sainz, who is leading Ford’s team efforts, encountered early issues when he suffered a puncture in his newly equipped Raptor T1+ vehicle.

The complexity of the stage was exacerbated by its timing, as it occurred just before a crucial 48-hour marathon stage. This unique situation meant that racers had little incentive to push for a front position, as doing so could potentially leave them at a disadvantage on the rugged terrain that would follow.

In a tactical move mirrored by several competitors, Sainz intentionally reduced his pace over the final 80 km, aiming to lose positions to improve his starting prospects for the next day’s stage. Despite this strategy, he ultimately finished seventh, trailing Toyota’s Seth Quintero by 3 minutes and 17 seconds. Quintero saw a boost in his ranking after receiving time credits for helping fellow competitor Laia Sainz, who was stranded on the track.

Reflecting on the stage’s demanding conditions, Sainz admitted, “It was the first stage that was quite significant, quite a Dakar stage, pure Dakar, with a bit of everything.” He noted the abundant vegetation in the area, which contributed to the high incidence of vehicle damage, including his own puncture.

The strategy employed by drivers during this initial segment is critical, and Sainz acknowledged that miscalculating their positions can complicate subsequent stages. “I would have liked to start at least 15th, but it’s not easy to get the strategy right,” he commented, highlighting the challenges of anticipating outcomes in such a dynamic race format.

Compounding Sainz’s difficulties was the loss of his navigational tablet during the race, forcing him to depend on a secondary device for navigation. “It made the stage more complicated, more stressful,” he said. The absence of the Sentinel safety feature, which helps avoid collisions, added to the challenges as they struggled to gauge how much time they had lost due to the puncture and navigation issues.

As the Dakar Rally progresses, Sainz’s insights will be invaluable for both his team and competitors as they navigate not just the physical demands of the terrain, but also the strategic components that could determine their success in this world-renowned motorsport event.

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www.motorsport.com