It seems black and white..... they had a carbon fibre composite clutch plate, .... carbon fibre composites are on the listed forbidden component materials for that part, along with titanium and other exotic materials. The team say there is no performance gain. Why use it then, if it adds no performance and is on a list of no-nos.??
There has to be a reason, maybe one of additional reliability. Doesnt escape the fact it is listed as illegal.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Prodrive’s Sebastien Loeb slashed Carlos Sainz Sr’s lead by a third with victory on Stage 7, while Mattias Ekstrom became the latest driver to fall out of contention in the Dakar Rally.
A tough day for Audi, with Ekstrom stopping twice due to mechanical problems and Stephane Peterhansel having to sacrifice his own chances to come to the aid of the Swede.
It was Toyota newcomer Seth Quintero who set the early pace after it resumed after a day’s rest, with him leading Overdrive’s Guerlain Chicherit and team-mate Moraes in a Hilux 1-2-3. Loeb was relatively slow off the line but a few sections in he was picking the pace up surging to third place by the fifth checkpoint on 213km, when Moraes had snatched the lead of the rally, Loeb first picked off Quintero before surging past the Brazilian at the next checkpoint.
There was a brief threat from Century’s Mathieu Serradori in the next part of the stage after the Frenchman quickly jumped the Toyota duo, but Loeb was able to quickly build a buffer for himself en route to his second consecutive stage victory of 2024, and third overall.
Moraes was able to retake second position in his factory Hilux to salvage a solid result for Toyota after both Serradori and Quintero dropped off the front as the stage neared its end.
One of the big beneficiaries of their fall was Nasser Al-Attiyah, who also jumped Sainz just before the finish line to take a solid third in his Prodrive Hunter.
Fourth was still a reasonable result for Sainz after he had lost over six minutes at the very beginning of the stage, leaving him 17th at the first checkpoint of the day.
Chicherit and Serradori were eventually classified fifth and sixth, while Quintero dropped all the way down to eighth behind the X-Raid Mini of Vaidotas Zala.
With only five stages remaining, Dakar 2024 is now effectively a two-horse race between Sainz and Loeb, with the likes of Ekstrom, Peterhansel and Al-Attiyah all out of the running and now in support roles.
Provisional classification after Stage 7 (Top 10 only):
Position Driver Car Time / gap
1 Carlos Sainz Audi 30h06m42s
2 Sebastien Loeb Prodrive +19m00s
3 Lucas Moraes Toyota +1h00m35s
4 Guillaume de Mevius Toyota +1h30m50s
5 Giniel de Villiers Toyota +1h40m07s
6 Martin Prokop Ford +1h50m40s
7 Mathieu Serradori Century +1h52m50s
8 Guerlain Chicherit Toyota +1h58m40s
9 Guy Botterill Toyota +2h11m16s
10 Benediktas Vanagas Toyota +2h22m53s
EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS STAGE 7
BIKES
Ricky Brabec, who lost the rear brakes on his Honda early in Stage 7, leads by a single second from Hero's Ross Branch.
Overal Rankings after the stage 7
POS. N° EXP. DRIVE-TEAM TIME VARIATION PENALITY
1 9 (USA) RICKY BRABEC MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 32H 37' 20'' 00H 01' 00''
2 46 (BWA) ROSS BRANCH HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY 32H 37' 21'' + 00H 00' 01'' 00H 01' 00''
3 11 (CHL) JOSE IGNACIO CORNEJO FLORIMO MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 32H 44' 08'' + 00H 06' 48'' 00H 06' 00''
4 42 (FRA) ADRIEN VAN BEVERENMONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 32H 51' 59'' + 00H 14' 39''
5 47 (ARG) KEVIN BENAVIDESRED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING 33H 01' 59'' + 00H 24' 39'' 00H 03' 00''
6 2 (AUS) TOBY PRICE RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING 33H 08' 20''+ 00H 31' 00''
7 5 (AUS) DANIEL SANDERSRED BULL GASGAS FACTORY RACING 33H 15' 01'' + 00H 37' 41''
8 1 (ARG) LUCIANO BENAVIDES HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING 33H 20' 32'' + 00H 43' 12'' 00H 15' 00''
9 142 (SVK) STEFAN SVITKO SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM 33H 47' 53'' + 01H 10' 33''
10 23 (CZE) MARTIN MICHEK ORION - MOTO RACING GROUP 34H 20' 41'' + 01H 43' 21'' 00H 01' 00''
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Sadly we have notification today of a fatality amongst the bike riders. The crash happened early in the event but Carlos Falcon has now passed away....
Spanish rider Carles Falcon dies after Dakar crash
45-year-old Spanish rider Carles Falcon has died after a crash early in the event, on Stage 2 of the 2024 Dakar Rally. He crashed 448km into the Al Henakiyah-Al Duwadimi special, with a rider behind him immediately alerting officials.
He was revived and airlifted to Al Duwadimi Hospital in a serious condition, before being transferred to Spain, but has now sadly succumbed to his injuries
.Dakar organisers and the FIM, which governs the Bike section of the event, provided similar statements, the latter of which advised:
“It is with great sadness that we have learned from his family of the passing of Spanish rider Carles Falcón.
“In the second special stage of the Dakar linking Al Henakiyah to Al Duwadimi, the rider suffered a heavy fall at km 448.
“The emergency services who attended quickly were able to see the seriousness of his condition. Transferred by helicopter to Al Duwadimi hospital, then evacuated to Riyadh hospital, Carles was repatriated to Spain a few days later.
“Despite all the efforts of medical personnel, the rider finally succumbed to his injuries.
“Carles Falcón, aged 45, was participating in the Dakar for the second time.
“He ranked 68th in 2022 while he was part of the category of unassisted bikers, in which he occupied 16th place in the final ranking.
“This year he signed up for the TwinTrail Racing Team. Originally from Tarragona and practicing trials, he was a motorcycle tour guide and off-road instructor.
“The FIM Family, the organisation and competitors of the Dakar extend their most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.”
RIP Carles Falcon
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
RIP. It's always very sad to see fatalities on this event, and the initial reports really didn't sound promising, so I guess it hasn't come as a huge shock to those involved.
Much like all bike related activities, the squishy human part is always going to have safety challenges unless they're wearing some kind of hard exoskeleton suit which is totally unrealistic and implausible.
Gavle Yule Goat Predictor 2018, 2019 and 2021 Champion
MonteCristo wrote: ↑2 years agoVettel: Not a fan at all on track. But off track, good guy.
Sad if not unexpected news. Sadly he wont be the last Dakar or motorcycle competition rider to lose their life.
Meanwhile back to an update after Stage 8... after losing time to Loeb in Stage 7 El Matador has benefitted from a Loeb error and extended his lead without pushing his machinery too hard on a day when Audi came home 1-2-4..
Audi hits back as Loeb makes major error on Dakar Stage 8
Carlos Sainz has extended his Dakar Rally lead by five minutes on an eighth stage on which Audi team-mates Mattias Ekstrom and Stephane Peterhansel finished one-two.
After Sebastien Loeb had won three of the past four stages and closed the gap to exactly 19 minutes, Sainz is now 24:47s to the good in the general classification having set the fourth-fastest time of the day.
The 458km special from Al Duwadimi to Ha'il was a stage in two parts, with drivers negotiating sand and dunes before a long transfer section and then rocky terrain.
Despite having to open the road, Loeb was fastest for some time in his Prodrive Hunter. Unfortunately for Loeb, he lost his way around 390km into the special and had to turn around.
It was a mistake which saw Loeb plummet to 10th for the day, exactly 11 minutes slower than Ekstrom and, more importantly, 5:47s slower than Sainz. In effect he lost all his gains in the past 3-4 days with one mistake. Thats Dakar. Just shows It aint over 'till its over!
Good news for Carlos is that Al Attiyah will no longer be able to play back up and parts truck as he had mechanical issues.... he is now officially 87th in the general classification, more than 29 hours behind Sainz, having struck engine problems on Stage 8 and failed to complete the special.
General classification: Cars Top 10
Pos Num Nat Driver Team Time Gap
1 204 ESP CARLOS SAINZ TEAM AUDI SPORT 33H 29′ 10”
2 203 FRA SEBASTIEN LOEB BAHRAIN RAID XTREME 33H 53′ 57” + 00H 24′ 47”
3 206 BRA LUCAS MORAES TOYOTA GAZOO RACING 34H 34′ 23” + 01H 05′ 13”
4 221 BEL GUILLAUME DE MEVIUS OVERDRIVE RACING 35H 03′ 28” + 01H 34′ 18”
5 209 RSA GINIEL DE VILLIERS TOYOTA GAZOO RACING 35H 14′ 22” + 01H 45′ 12”
6 211 FRA GUERLAIN CHICHERIT OVERDRIVE RACING 35H 25′ 47” + 01H 56′ 37”
7 208 CZE MARTIN PROKOP ORLEN JIPOCAR TEAM 35H 30′ 33” + 02H 01′ 23”
8 212 FRA MATHIEU SERRADORI CENTURY RACING FACTORY TEAM 35H 32′ 25” + 02H 03′ 15”
9 243 RSA GUY DAVID BOTTERILL TOYOTA GAZOO RACING 35H 53′ 14” + 02H 24′ 04”
10 223 LTU BENEDIKTAS VANAGAS TOYOTA GAZOO RACING BALTICS 36H 03′ 34” + 02H 34′ 24”
UPDATE ON AL ATTIYAH.
I know he started Stage 9, albeit 29 hours behind the leaders but the live tracking shows he made an about-turn to join the road itinerary due to a mechanical problem. As of this moment he has not officially withdrawn, but I believe his target now, given his zero contention as far as the Dakar is concerned is to maybe still accrue some points for the W2RC Championship he is contesting in full.
BIKES
Benavides wins Stage 8 as Brabec creeps ahead
Red Bull KTM’s Kevin Benavides has won Stage 8 of the 2024 Dakar Rally while Ricky Brabec extended his overall Bikes lead, albeit to just 42 seconds.
Benavides' stage victory was his and KTM's second of the event, this time by a 31-second margin over brother Luciano of sister team Husqvarna Factory Racing.
On the other factory KTM entry, Toby Price was fifth on the day and retains sixth overall, at a reduced 29:10s deficit relative to Brabec.
Brabec set the seventh-fastest time of stage 8 but beat his nearest rival for the Dakar 2024 crown, Hero Motorsports' Ross Branch, by 41 seconds.
General classification: Bikes Top 10
Pos Num Nat Rider Team Time Gap
1 9 USA RICKY BRABEC MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 36H 16′ 31”
2 46 BOT ROSS BRANCH HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY 36H 17′ 13” + 00H 00′ 42”
3 11 CHI JOSE IGNACIO CORNEJO FLORIMO MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 36H 20′ 52” + 00H 04′ 21”
4 42 FRA ADRIEN VAN BEVEREN MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 36H 28′ 29” + 00H 11′ 58”
5 47 ARG KEVIN BENAVIDES RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING 36H 37′ 02” + 00H 20′ 31”
6 2 AUS TOBY PRICE RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING 36H 45′ 41” + 00H 29′ 10”
7 5 AUS DANIEL SANDERS RED BULL GASGAS FACTORY RACING 36H 55′ 14” + 00H 38′ 43”
8 1 ARG LUCIANO BENAVIDES HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING 36H 56′ 06” + 00H 39′ 35”
9 142 SVK STEFAN SVITKO SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM 37H 28′ 24” + 01H 11′ 53”
10 23 CZE MARTIN MICHEK ORION – MOTO RACING GROUP 38H 13′ 24” + 01H 56′ 53”
EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS
(click on the youtube button to watch)
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
A bit of an update on todays running, Stage 9 now underway.....
Audi playing the Team Game.
Absolutely no surprises with both Ekstrom and Peterhansel now both out of the overall challenge given their own issues on the event. Stéphane Peterhansel, 2nd on yesterday’s special behind Ekström, deliberately slowed down after the start of the special to let Guerlain Chicherit and Carlos Sainz past. After 40 km, ‘Peter’ has the 65th best time, 7 minutes behind Loeb’s time. However, as I said this strategy was both predictable and common sense. It was never going to happen that Audi would leave Sainz, the overall leader and the last hope of the Audi clan for victory, alone in 4th position on the special, behind the two German team’s cars opening the stage. Ekström is therefore opening the way as a go fast for Carlos Sainz, whose back is covered in case of a mishap by ‘Mister Dakar’.
Latest Some 70 klms later, after 110 kilometres of the special, Sébastien Loeb has been the quickest driver, with a lead of a little less than 2’ over Carlos Sainz and Lucas Moraes.
So right now, Mattias Ekström continues to lead the way but with the disadvantage of leading the way whilst the followers can go to school on his tracks. Loeb is currently catching him at quite a rate.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Sebastien Loeb has won Stage 9 of the Dakar Rally but his gains on Carlos Sainz were limited by the fact that the Spaniard finished second on the day.
Loeb has been really quick the last few days and his naigational stuff up yesterday cost him more time, but he still won. Same again in Stage 9..... despite picking up a couple of punctures Loeb finished some 5 minutes ahead of El Matador. Sainz though was 2nd fastest over the line and still leads Loeb by 20 minutes with just 3 stages now remaining.
Carlos of course has assistance from his two Audi team mates to help him..... Ekstrom playing the hair and showing the way, but that of course helps Loeb as well. Sainz of course has Mr Dakar playing Tail gunner for him, on hand to carry extra spares and tyres to assist if required. Loeb has no such luxury and is no doubt having to push his machinery much harder thn El Matador. For the second day in a row, AA had to exit the special due to mechanical problems and was officially classified 157th in the Cars, meaning he will start far down the road order on Stage 10.7 minutes pr stage is what Loeb needs to beet Sainz by each day now. That means 100% committment and pace from him which of course runs the risk of punctures, split second navigational errors plus the risk of damaging the car. whereas Sainz can drive at a slightly relaxed pace. And not make any mistakes or navigational errors.
Third place on the day went to Century Racing Factory Team's Mathieu Serradori, 29 seconds behind Sainz and 4:43s behind Loeb, with Overdrive Racing's Guillaume De Mevius fourth in a Toyota Hilux.
Overall, fellow Hilux driver Lucas Moraes of Toyota Gazoo Racing is third at 1:12:02s off the pace, with De Mevius nearly 28 minutes further back in fourth.
Stage 10 is a loop around AlUla.
General classification: Cars Top 10
Pos Num Nat Driver Team Time Gap
1 204 ESP CARLOS SAINZ TEAM AUDI SPORT 37H 50′ 57”
2 203 FRA SEBASTIEN LOEB BAHRAIN RAID XTREME 38H 11′ 30” + 00H 20′ 33”
3 206 BRA LUCAS MORAES TOYOTA GAZOO RACING 39H 02′ 59” + 01H 12′ 02”
4 221 BEL GUILLAUME DE MEVIUS OVERDRIVE RACING 39H 30′ 53” + 01H 39′ 56”
5 212 FRA MATHIEU SERRADORI CENTURY RACING FACTORY TEAM 39H 54′ 41” + 02H 03′ 44”
6 211 FRA GUERLAIN CHICHERIT OVERDRIVE RACING 40H 03′ 40” + 02H 12′ 43”
7 208 CZE MARTIN PROKOP ORLEN JIPOCAR TEAM 40H 03′ 45” + 02H 12′ 48”
8 209 RSA GINIEL DE VILLIERS TOYOTA GAZOO RACING 40H 06′ 09” + 02H 15′ 12”
9 243 RSA GUY DAVID BOTTERILL TOYOTA GAZOO RACING 40H 20′ 48” + 02H 29′ 51”
10 223 LTU BENEDIKTAS VANAGAS TOYOTA GAZOO RACING BALTICS 40H 50′ 32” + 02H 59′ 35”
BIKES
Brabec pulls clear with three stages to go
Ricky Brabec has tightened his grip on the Bikes race at Dakar 2024 after finishing second on Stage 9 to fellow Honda rider Adrien Van Beveren.
While the American was pipped at the post, he is now 7:09s to the good in the general classification, having started the day just 42 seconds ahead of Hero Motosports' Ross Branch.
Red Bull KTM's Toby Price remains sixth overall after setting the fourth-fastest time on the 417km special between Ha'il to AlUla.
On a day comprised mainly of sand and dunes, it was Brabec and Van Beveren duelling for stage honours for much of the way, with fellow Honda rider Pablo Quintanilla also in the mix after the transfer section.
Brabec was pipped at the post, he is now 7:09s to the good in the general classification, having started the day just 42 seconds ahead of Ross Branch.
In the general classification, it is Brabec from Branch, Van Beveren at 11:16s from top spot, Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo, Kevin Benavides and Price in sixth at 35:12s off the pace.
The other Australian in the field, Daniel Sanders, has slipped to eighth at 59:47s in arrears.
General classification: Bikes Top 10
Pos Num Nat Rider Team Time Gap
1 9 USA RICKY BRABEC MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 40H 53′ 49”
2 46 BOT ROSS BRANCH HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY 41H 00′ 58” + 00H 07′ 09”
3 42 FRA ADRIEN VAN BEVEREN MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 41H 05′ 05” + 00H 11′ 16”
4 11 CHI JOSE IGNACIO CORNEJO FLORIMO MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 41H 07′ 35” + 00H 13′ 46”
5 47 ARG KEVIN BENAVIDES RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING 41H 21′ 51” + 00H 28′ 02”
6 2 AUS TOBY PRICE RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING 41H 29′ 01” + 00H 35′ 12”
7 1 ARG LUCIANO BENAVIDES HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING 41H 42′ 58” + 00H 49′ 09”
8 5 AUS DANIEL SANDERS RED BULL GASGAS FACTORY RACING 41H 53′ 36” + 00H 59′ 47”
9 142 SVK STEFAN SVITKO SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM 42H 17′ 38” + 01H 23′ 49”
10 76 FRA JEANLOUP LEPAN DUUST RALLY TEAM 43H 29′ 18” + 02H 35′ 29”
STAGE 9 EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS (10mins)
You know the drill, click the watch on youtube buttom to watch.
DAKAR CLASSIC HIGHLIGHTS Stage 9
Other categories classification as its getting to the pointy end of the event now and I have the info at hand.....
Trucks
CZE Martin Macik (Iveco), 43:26'01
CZE Ales Loprais (Praga), + 1:54'
NED Mitchel van der Brink (Iveco), + 2:12'
NED Janus van Kasteren (Iveco), + 4:36'
NED Vick Versteejnen (Iveco), + 7:25'
NED Michiel Becx (Iveco), + 10:49'
T3 Challengers (Faster of the 'lightweight' categories
USA Mitchell Guthrie (Taurus), 42:09'25
ESP Cristina Gutiérrez (Taurus), + 28'
CHI Francisco López (Can-Am), + 36'
LTU Rokas Baciuska (Can-Am), + 1:22'
USA Austin Jones (Can-Am), + 1:27'
T4 SSV (Side by side driver navigator 4 wheel buggies
FRA Xavier de Soultrait (Polaris), 44:53'33
USA Sara Price (Can-Am), + 28'
SUI Jerome de Sadeleer (Polaris), + 31'
SAU Yasir Seaidan (Can-Am), 37'
POR Joao Ferreira (Can-Am), + 1:18'
ECU Sebastián Guayasamin (Can-Am), + 2:27'
Quads:
ARG Manuel Andujar (Yamaha), 51:07'27
FRA Alexandre Giroud (Yamaha), + 6'
SVK Juraj Varga (Yamaha), + 3:08'
LTU Laisvydas Kancius (Yamaha), + 5:24'
LTU Anastas Kanopkinas (CFMoto), + 27:05'
Just for info in case all the lightweight classes are confusing,
Differences between Challengers and SSV categories
The two categories of lightweight vehicles, those requiring a more modest budget than the state-of-the-art outright cars, have been renamed by the FIA.
T#3 now known as Challenger
The FIA has renamed Group T3 —the fastest of these vehicles— to Challenger.In effect T3 Challengers (race number on a violet background) are prototypes crafted by specialised makers, a launchpad for seasoned crews and the last step before the car category.
Group T4 (now renamed to SSV).... based on production vehicles with very slight modifications. They have race number on a white background.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Both Al Attiyah and Nani Romo have not taken the start of Stage 10 so their Dakar is over.
Sébastien Loeb came to a brief halt about 53 kilometres into the special. He went through the first time check with a 1′38″ deficit to the fastest driver, Guerlain Chicherit,
By the time they got to the 91 klm mark Carlos Sainz was almost 2 minutes ahead of Loeb, who was tasked with opening the road today, is nearly 7′30″ behind Mattias Ekström, the provisional leader pending the time of Guerlain Chicherit.
50 klms later the tables had turned after Sainz had stopped briefly conceding over 4 minutes to Loeb. All very cat and mouse and they are not even half way through today's stage
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Carlos Sainz was stationary at km 248 for over 10 minutes. Mattias Ekström iarrived on the scene and Stéphane Peterhansel was on his way. In the meantime Loeb had already blazed past km 264.
Carlos was back on the road after stopping for ten minutes or so. His overall lead over Loeb has melted away, down by more than 21 minutes to 4′13″!
10 minures after that and Loeb was forced to stop on stage. He was back on the move 5 minutes later
After all the dramas Sainz has the overall lead in the rally back up to 11 minutes at just over 300 klms.
However Mattias Ekström remained stuck at km 248 after lending Carlos Sainz a hand. So should Sainz now have any further issues he just has Peterhansel on hand for help.
By my reckoning there is about 70 klms left to run in the stage now.
Nailbiting stuff.
C'mon Carlos!
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
OK A quick summary of Srage 10 Stage 10: Loeb shrinks Sainz’s lead as Chicherit wins stage
Carlos Sainz’s 2024 Dakar Rally lead has been slashed again by Sebastien Loeb as both contenders hit trouble on Stage 10, which was won by Guerlain Chicherit.
I mentioned above that both drivers had to stop on stage, Sainz twice and Loeb once. As it turns out all stops were puncture related.. Sainz actually had three in total, the final one needing to take Ekstroms spare. Loeb actually had two (thy carry two spares). Seb also lost time as his car’s jack has an issue meaning the Frenchman had to drop his car into a small hole to raise the opposite corner.
As for the others, with Loeb plus the three Audi runners restrained by stoppages (assisting Sainz in the case of the other two Audis, it allowed Toyota’s Chicherit to dominate the stage for his first triumph of the 2year. The stage victory moved him up to fifth on the overall standings ahead of Mathieu Serradori.
Behind the top two on the overall classification, Lucas Moraes remains third for Toyota, the deficit cut down to just over an hour, with Toyota’s Guillaume de Mevius in fourth still comfortably ahead of Chicherit and Serradori.
Martin Prokop has retained seventh for Ford, as Toyota’s Giniel de Villiers was another contender to drop time and finished the stage 20th, which allowed Guy David Botterill (Toyota) to move to just over seven minutes behind him in ninth overall. Fellow Toyota driver Benediktas Vanagas rounded out the top 10.
Provisional OVERALLclassification after Stage 10
Position. Driver. Car Time / gap
1. Carlos Sainz. Audi. 41h35m12s
2 Sebastien Loeb. Prodrive. +13m22s
3. Lucas Moraes. Toyota +1h02m44s
4. Guillaume de Mevius. Toyota. +1h27m09s
5. Guerlain Chicherit. Toyota +1h47m55s
6. Mathieu Serradori. Century. +1h48m59s
7. Martin Prokop Ford. +1h59m58s
8. Giniel de Villiers. Toyota. +2h17m20s
9. Guy Botterill. Toyota. +2h24m26s
10 Benediktas Vanagas. Toyota. +2h40m51s
BIKES
Brabec in box seat after first stage win of Dakar 2024
Ricky Brabec is more than 10 minutes clear in the Bikes race after finally picking up his first stag
Ross Branch remains second overall but the he ceded another 3:45s relative to Brabec with the seventh-fastest stage time and now trails by 10:54s with two stages remaining.
Branch is also still the onlynon-Honda rider in the top four, with just a 52-second buffer now to Adrien Van Beveren and 2:54s to Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo. Red Bull KTM team-mates Kevin Benavides and Toby Price round out the overall top six but tBenavides is more than half an hour off the pace and Price more than 40 minutes away from top spot. They are both done in terms of a win.
Daniel Sanders had something of a bounceback with the fourth-fastest stage time but is still eighth overall. Price rounded out the day's top 10, 6:48s slower than Brabec.
Tomorrow's penultimate stage features a 480km special across the rugged terrain between AlUla and Yanbu.
General classification: Bikes Top 10
Pos Num Nat Rider Team Time Gap
1 9 USA RICKY BRABEC MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 44H 45′ 28”
2 46 BOT ROSS BRANCH HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY 44H 56′ 22” + 00H 10′ 54”
3 42 FRA ADRIEN VAN BEVEREN MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 44H 57′ 14” + 00H 11′ 46”
4 11 CHI JOSE IGNACIO CORNEJO FLORIMO MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 44H 59′ 16” + 00H 13′ 48”
5 47 ARG KEVIN BENAVIDES RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING 45H 18′ 11” + 00H 32′ 43”
6 2 AUS TOBY PRICE RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING 45H 27′ 28” + 00H 42′ 00”
7 1 ARG LUCIANO BENAVIDES HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING 45H 37′ 10” + 00H 51′ 42”
8 5 AUS DANIEL SANDERS RED BULL GASGAS FACTORY RACING 45H 46′ 02” + 01H 00′ 34”
9 142 SVK STEFAN SVITKO SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM 46H 24′ 31” + 01H 39′ 03”
10 23 CZE MARTIN MICHEK ORION – MOTO RACING GROUP
The highlights for Stage 10 wont be available till tomorrrow so I will add them then.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑3 months agoOK A quick summary of Srage 10 Stage 10: Loeb shrinks Sainz’s lead as Chicherit wins stage
The highlights for Stage 10 wont be available till tomorrrow so I will add them then.
As promised HIGHLIGHTS FOR STAGE 10 ALL CLASSES
Click watch on youtube.
Onto Stage 11
So just two stages left, the final one being short at just 175klms, is pretty much a straight uncomplicated and short Sprint starting and finishing t Yambu
So in effect this stage 11 later today is effectively the last real opportunity to make (or lose) major time . Team Audi have the advantage of a time gap over Loeb of 13 minutes, but additionally have the benefit as we saw in stage 10, of having two other cars running high in the top 10, will be on hand for additional spare tyres and assistance if required.
Loeb is the sole Prodrive entry running, with Al-Attiyah having now formally withdrawn. He is on his own.
It is advantage Sainz, but far from match point.... as we saw yesterday it does not take much to cause a turnaround of the gap in hand. A simple navigation error, punctures, even a jammed jack can turn things upside down in a heartbeat.
Oh did I mention...... This stage last year was the major source of punctures for particularly the cars. (It was earlier in the rally then, not at the end, but the terrain has not changed. It will be a challenge for sure.
More detail of todays stage 11 follows.
WHATS IN STORE TODAY
DESTINATION YANBU: 420 KM OF SPECIAL ON THE PROGRAMME FOR STAGE 11
The day's route is also the longest challenge of the second week, capable of shaking up the podium in all categories. Over 400 kilometres in length, the special stage is played out mainly on inhospitable, brittle terrain.
For the bikers, this is the last physical challenge they will have to endure. T
he car drivers who suffered on the second stage last January will already have to be working out just how to keep their cool. It is very likely that the highest number of punctures will be recorded on this special.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Looks like it is all over in the car division.....
BROKEN A-ARM FOR LOEB
Sébastien Loeb has stoppef at 132 km due to broken front right-hand suspension A-arm. Loeb is reported to have asked his assistance squad to pick him up and exit the special.
He will be able to take starter’s orders tomorrow, but the fight for overall victory is over.......unless El Matador has similar mechanical issues.
UPDATE: Loeb has not given up and is continuing, either with a new A arm from his back up crew or has been able to bodge it sufficiently to at least continue.
He was stopped for over an hour but is now going again. At the time of his restart he is dead set on fighting for at least the 3rd place podium After 138 km, he is third in the virtual general rankings with a lead fo just 8’’ over Guillaume de Mevius. Whether his car is 100% we dont know but the win maybe over but mathemtically a podium is still on if all his stars align.
250 klms into the stage and Sainz leads Guillaume de Mevius (fighting with Loeb for the final podiu spot. by 2’04’’ and Romain Dumas by 2’21’’. Respectively fourth and fifth, Mathieu Serradori and Guerlain Chicherit are within just over 30’’ of each other. Stéphane Peterhansel, who was second after 139 km, is now around 19 minutes behind.
As for Loeb he is continuing at speed..... he has passed the 179 km poin wheret he was more than 1 hour and 15 minutes behind Carlos Sainz. However, more importantly Seb has gained a little time on Guillaume de Mevius, allowing him to slightly strengthen his third place on the provisional general rankings podium. He now has a lead over de Mevius of 1’13’’
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
