MOTORSPORT
Heaven for photographers but hell for riders and drivers, the 2021 Dakar Rally was one roller coaster of emotions across 12 enduring stages
All the action from the Dakar this year, along with a conversation with Jehan Daruvala and updates from the JK NRC
THE 43RD EDITION OF the Dakar was nothing short of spectacular. A strong field of competitors faced logistical hurdles, pandemic related restrictions and made it to Saudi Arabia. Unparalleled focus was placed on safety to minimise mishaps — the total distance was reduced, speed limit of 180kmph imposed and the special stages comprised fewer fast sections, putting emphasis on navigational skills and driving/riding techniques.
Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Nasser AlAttiyah, and X-Raid Mini JCW’s Carlos Sainz and Stéphane Peterhansel were the favourites in the Car category, banking on the robust technical backing from their factory powerhouses. In the Bike category, after Ricky Brabec’s victory last year that ended KTM’s reign, there was a hard-fought duel between Monster Energy Honda Racing and the Red Bull KTM Factory Team. Here’s how things unfolded as the competitors traversed twelve stages of fearsome terrain in the Arabian Desert.
Car
Reigning champ Carlos Sainz took the Stage 1 win with teammate Stéphane Peterhansel in second, setting the tone for the rally for the X-Raid team aboard their RWD Mini JCW Buggy. Initially, AlAttiyah was way off his usual pace but Stage 2 onwards, the Toyota Gazoo Racing
driver never dropped below third, setting a stellar example of consistency. Ninetime WRC champ Sebastian Loeb faced a crushing blow on the opening stage with three punctures to his BRX Hunter. After plummeting down the rankings in the following stages, Loeb retired in Stage 8 due to a car riddled with mechanical issues.
Stage 3 onwards, Peterhansel led the overall rankings, finishing within the top three on almost all occasions. An aggressive Al-Attiyah came close to surpassing Peterhansel more than once, but frequent punctures made him lose as much time as he gained on Mr Dakar. Despite winning only one special stage compared to AlAttiyah’s five, the Frenchman doubled his lead over the Qatari driver, from 8 minutes to over 16 minutes in Stage 9.
Overdrive Toyota’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi briefly startled everyone as he clawed his way up the rankings by winning two stages. Although, the Saudi was no match for the veterans and couldn’t close in on the top contenders. Mr Dakar was in total control and 30 years after his first Dakar victory, the Frenchman’s voracious appetite for victory was satiated as he won his record 14th Dakar title. He was followed by Al-Attiyah in second and Carlos Sainz in third. Fourth-placed Jakub Przygonski equalled his performance from 2019 while Nani Roma’s fifth position was a genuine booster for the Bahrain X-Raid Team on their debut.
Bike
Red Bull KTM Factory rider Toby Price flexed his muscles on the opening stage gaining 16 minutes over defending champion Ricky Brabec. However, the initial stages saw frequent lead changes
with an apparent yo-yo effect — the rider that won a stage opened the next day, and never performed well while doing so. Toby Price, Kevin Benavides, Joan Barreda Bort, Xavier De Soultrait and Skyler Howes had at least one stage win to their names by the halfway mark.
Entering Stage 7, Price held a tenuous lead but Honda rider Ignacio Cornejo, thanks to his exceptional pathfinding skills, seized the lead. On the marathon Stage 8, where riders are not permitted tyre changes nor any team assistance, Price suffered a massive crack on his tyre. He managed to devise a solution by wrapping the damaged area with cable ties and duct tapes, a trick that carried him to the end of the marathon stages.
A series of unfortunate incidents struck after the halfway mark. Cornejo and Price crashed in Stages 9 and 10 and their Dakar hopes ended as they were airlifted for medical evaluation. Meanwhile, Cornejo’s teammate Joan Barreda Bort missed a refuelling point and his Dakar run came to a grinding halt as his bike ran out of fuel. The Monster Energy Yamaha Rally team also faced setbacks as Ross Branch and Franco Caimi faced engine issues. In another heart-crushing blow, French rider Pierre Cherpin passed away days after his fall in the marathon Stage 7, reminding us how perilous motorsport can be.
At the end, Honda’s Argentinian rider Kevin Benavides, who gained the lead after teammate Cornejo exited the rally prematurely, went on to win the Dakar, followed by teammate Ricky Brabec. Red Bull KTM Factory rider Sam Sunderland was a threat till the very end, but the Honda riders managed to secure the two top spots.
After over 8000km, lots of emotional and physical struggles, 193 out of the 286 entrants managed to complete the rally. 55-year-young Peterhansel yet again proved that age is just a number, becoming the only competitor to win the Dakar rally in all three continents while Benavides is the first South American to win the Bike category, marking a proud moment for native fans. We journalists, meanwhile, cannot get over the breathtaking landscapes and dramatic pictures that now find pride of place on our PCs. ⌧
MR DAKAR'S VORACIOUS APPETITE FOR SUCCESS WAS SATIATED FOR THE 14TH TIME