Lithuanian takes first-day honours as Giniel has bad luck
The Dakar Rally entered a new era as the event raced through the Saudi Arabian desert for the first time on yesterday’s 319km run along the Red Sea from Jeddah to Al Whjh.
The race had already claimed its first victim when former truck racer Martin Kolomy crashed his Ford in Friday’s shakedown and it was not much better for several others as the Dakar claimed more victims.
But there was no stopping virtually unknown Lithuanian Viadotas Zala from taking the car win, while 2019 winner Toby Price won on two wheels.
It was a dramatic day among the cars as Qatari 2019 winner Nasser Al-Attiyah made the early running in the lead in his South African-built Toyota Hilux ahead of Spaniard Carlos Sainz Senior’s Mini buggy and Jakub Przygonsk’s AWD Mini.
But the Pole was soon in trouble, so Attiyah led by mid-distance from a resurgent duo Stephane Peterhansel in the second Mini buggy and Qassimi’s Peugeot, the Minis of Orlando Terrannova and surprise package Viktor Zala’s AWD Mini.
Frenchman Mattieu Serradori sat a fine sixth in his SAbuilt Century Buggy ahead of Bernhard Ten Brinke and Fernando Alonso in two more factory Toyotas.
But SA hope Giniel de Villiers struggled in 14th, suffering four punctures on his Hilux.
Then Sheikh Khalid bin Faisal bin Sultan Al Qassimi emerged in the lead from the fifth waypoint at 254km, ahead of surprise package Zala, Al Attiyah, Terranova and Sainz, before Qassimi was just as quickly gone from the front in a day of punctures and drama, to leave Zala the shock winner.
He finished two minutes clear of Mini teammates Peterhansel and Sainz, with Nasser Al Attiyah the best of the rest from SA Gazoo Toyota Hilux team-mate Bernhard Ten Brinke after the team suffered no less than 11
Picture Supplied punctures.
Perhaps the result of the day from a South African car point of view, was the Century buggy that came in a brilliant sixth in Serradori’s hands.
Fernando Alonso finished his first Dakar stage a troubled 11th, but not quite as tormented as South African Toyota teammate De Villiers, who lost 23 minutes.
Other cars of South African interest are the two Red-Lined Nissan Navaras, with which British driver Thomas Bell enjoyed a solid run to 35th and SA pair Hennie de Klerk and Johan Smalberger were 61st.
In the motorcycles, defending Dakar champion Australian Toby Price rode his KTM to victory over Californian Honda Rider Ricky Brabec, another former KTM under winner Matthias Walkner, Kevin Benavides on a Honda, Sam Sunderland (KTM) and Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna).
Botswana ace Ross Branch rode his KTM home a fine 14th and SA rookie Aaron Mare ended 34th.
It was a good first day for the other southern African riders, not least women rookies Taye Perry and Kirsten Landman who rode their KTMs home in a provisional 73rd and 95th respectively, no-assistance pair Stuart Gregory (KTM) in 86th and Wessel Bosman (Husqvarna) who was 135th and Zimbabwe’s Graeme Sharp (KTM), who came in 93rd.
Former winners, Chilean Ignacio Casale and Pole Rafael Sonik, topped the quad stage ahead of Czech Kubeinioa in a Yamaha rout.
US rider Casey Currie led the way in the Side by Side race over Russian truck exile Sergei Kariakin and Lopez Contardo with 100km to race.
SA navigator Andrew Horne was riding fourth alongside Cyril Despres and Zimbabwean Conrad Rautenbach was just outside the top 10.
The Russian Kamaz army was already in complete control with veterans Karganov and Sotnikov leading rookie Shibalov.
It was also a tough day for Jakub Przygonski stuck after waypoint three.
The run into the deep Arabian Desert from Al Wajh to Neom is the first part of the Super Marathon stage.
This Dakar report is brought to you by Motorsport Media courtesy of TreasuryOne Motorsport and Red-Lined Motoring Adventures
Also see page 22