Dakar 2024 | Step 9 | HELLO > ALULA
January 16, 2024 – 17:14 (GMT+3)
THE EYE IN THE LENS
The journey towards AlUla brings back some memories. However, this is not a return to the beginning as the situation has changed considerably since the prologue. The return avoided volcanic rocks for the competitors, choosing the northern option from Al Duwadimi which nevertheless has some contact points. During most of the 436 kilometers of the special run, caution was required for two reasons: fine steering to avoid crashes and punctures on the rocky sections, and extreme care to match the reading of the road book to the intricate tracks presented to the pilots. In this game, Adrien Van Beveren managed to adapt to the starting position he occupied for most of the day to win in AlUla.
IMPORTANT
Extreme endurance tests competitors physically. Dakar is also a mechanical sport where the dangers are great and the difficulties of navigation mobilize the intellect, not forgetting of course the driving technique which rarely makes the difference alone. To complete the picture, strategy plays a vital role, especially when the horizon of the final finish line appears clearly. The countdown started already yesterday, Adrien Van Beveren in the role of a joke that consisted of his rivals slamming on the brakes to start well behind him today. The Northerner’s reaction to his wounded pride was in keeping with his talent, even on a pitch that wasn’t exactly in his favor. Leading the race for a good part of the distance, he was able to sail perfectly at a high pace, which allowed him to return to the provisional podium. VBA has covered part of the way, but still has a gap of 11’16” to catch up with his Honda colleague, Ricky Brabec. The American was indeed the big winner of the day, as his starting position (7th) allowed him to quickly advance towards AlUla and increase his advantage at the top of the general classification. As the wind shifts in his favor, the Californian also benefits from multiple navigational errors Ross branch, which is now at 7’09”. Brabec did not win a single stage in total, but as of today, it even took 2nd place four times, which may be the winning formula for the vintage in 2024. Looking at the car’s classification sheets, we understand that the name Carlos Sainz it does not appear at the top of the stage, but it is at the very top of the general from the evening 48h chrono. Today’s operation does not guarantee him final victory, but a coup consisting of a special trip “in convoy”, under the supervision of his two teammates Mattias Ekstrom AND Stéphane Peterhansel as gatekeepers, they could give the Audi front man some breathing room. He still keeps his direct pursuer at a reasonable distance, at a stage where every step is a giant step towards success. Sébastien Loeb he readily admits that as a hunter his strategic options are now reduced to maximum attack, with the amount of risk this cavalcade entails. The Frenchman achieved his fourth victory of the year today (see statistics), he flirts with the limit because he “broke” twice along the way, but he retains the ability to make people shudder “El Matador”. Nothing seems impossible in good weather for the BRX Hunter rider, but the 20’33” that separates him from Sainz will require him to ride in super-conquering mode. Unlike his rivals, he will have little support from his teammates Nasser Al Attiyah. The five-time Qatari winner, who had to leave the stage for the second day in a row due to mechanical problems, will only start very far from Loeb… at best.
Mitch Guthrie driving sheltered from this type of examination, because with only half an hour ahead Cristina Gutierrez at the top of the category, calmly looking at the Argentine Nicolas Cavigliasso returns with his wife Valentina Pertegarini to the club of stage winners. Xavier de Soultrait, at the helm of SSV, may also begin to adopt a managerial strategy noting the new failures of Joao Ferreira (see heavy blow). As for the truck, it is Gert Huzink which sets the best time of the special without anyone shuddering either Martin Macikat the top of the hierarchy with almost two hours lead Ales Loprais.
PERF OF THE DAY
They are the pebble in the shoe of top teams. Those who, from issue to issue, impose themselves as terrible outsiders of the caravan. In AlUla, Matthew Serradori AND Loïc Minaudier they took their Century to third place on stage 9. For the first time this year, while the special podium was previously monopolized by Toyota, Audi and BRX. The performance is all the more remarkable as the French duo are the only 2-wheel drive in today’s Top 15. Behind the wheel, Serradori signs his best result since his 2020 victory, during Stage 8, the last to date for the privateer driver. In the general ranking, he climbs to sixth place, doubling Guerlain Chicherit AND Martin Prokop. Fifth place, held by Giniel de Villiers, is just 3’32” ahead of him. The Century Racing Factory Team duo bid a fanfare farewell to the CR6, before moving to 4×4 with the newest South African manufacturer.
HARD HIT OF THE DAY
João Ferreira was man of the day in Challenger yesterday. After changing the handlebars… or rather the handlebars, broken in stage 1, the Portuguese managed to weather the storm. As a worthy successor to his nation’s conquering sailors, the young 23-year-old Can-Am official reached the promised land of Top 3 at the end of Stage 8. Just over seven minutes yesterday from Xavier de Soultrait, the four remaining stages seemed more than enough to secure his first Dakar win. But today at kilometer 44, Joao had a problem with the fuel pump… to be exact. Dropped to one hour behind the overall leader, the climb looks dangerous, with only four stages left to complete from here to Yanbu Port this time. Fate is cruel to the Portuguese.
STATISTICS OF THE DAY: 30.6%
With 9 titles in his first WRC career and 80 world championship wins, Sébastien Loeb stands out as a voracious hoarder. Devoting himself mainly to rally raids, the Alsatian did not change his habits and started by winning 4 stages for his baptism at Dakar 2016 in Argentina and Bolivia. Today he signs the 27th scratch in his career, after appearing in a total of 88 speed tests in 8 participations, including prologues. With a success rate of 30.6%, it has the highest ratio at the shelter.
W2RC: a promising FIA season
Due to the premature departure of the current vice-champion of the world Yazeed Al Rajhi in the Empty Quarter and the risk of not seeing the world champion Nasser Al Attiyah at the beginning of the 10th stage, the points to be distributed in Yanbu for the two main players of the 2023 season will be zero or small. Carlos Sainz AND Lucas Moraes they are currently in the best position to start on the right foot to win the world championship title in 2024. But nothing has been decided and above all it already promises a very competitive season. No later than a month after the arrival of the current first round, the W2RC caravan already has an appointment for the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. The race won in the last three editions by Yazeed Al Rajhi, Stéphane Peterhansel AND Nasser Al Attiyah. Three pretenders who, whatever happens so far, Yanbu will have a worse start than the future leaders who were determined on January 19. The spirit of revenge will be under many helmets, and not least, very soon!
CLASSIC SOUND
Dakar and family stories are a classic! THE the Marreau brothers they took the podium in 1980 with their 4L before winning the 1981 race in their R20. The Loder brothers in their G class i Benavente in the Nissan Terrano to imitate them. THE Zoll twins in their Porsche 924 they are even more fusional. Last year, it was a couple Juan Morera and Lidia Ruba who won before returning this year in a replica Porsche 959. And they’re not the only pair in the race, husband Abrial of France and the Lovemores from South Africa emulate them in this edition. An intergenerational bridge, the Dakar Classic also welcomes father-daughter duos like Klaassen or father-son like Botma. But the prize goes to the truck of the German Ruppert family. Mercedes 1735 is driven by Christian and Ursula with the support of their son Matias. There is strength in numbers in Classic!
