Sweet smell of success for Guerlain Chicherit in Dakar Rally stage 3

03.01.2023 - 18:47 arabnews.com

HAIL: French driver Guerlain Chicherit bounced back from five punctures on Monday to win Tuesday’s third stage of the Dakar Rally which was shortened from 447 kilometers to 378km due to torrential rain.

The 44-year-old Prodrive driver timed 10 hours 56 minutes with South African Henk Lattegan finishing second, 3min 26sec off the pace.

Argentinian Orlando Terranova posted the third fastest time, 5min 4sec adrift. “It is wonderful,” said Chicherit. “Of course we are disappointed with what happened yesterday but we have proved what we can achieve if we stay focused.” Chicherit’s delight was in stark contrast to that of overnight leader and three-time champion Carlos Sainz, who came to a juddering halt at 213km with a left wheel problem.

The stoppage cost the 60-year-old Spaniard nearly an hour — the most immediate beneficiary was Qatar’s defending champion Nasser Al-Atthiyah.

Football Sport Motorsport Cristiano Ronaldo Sebastien Loeb Carlos Sainz Rudi García Yazeed Al-Rajhi Qatar France Argentina Australia South Africa Sander Saudi Arabia Dakar Liverpool

DAMMAM: Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah on Sunday won his fifth Dakar Rally driver’s title and second in a row, with Argentina’s Kevin Benavides securing his second motorbike crown.

Dakar Rally to remain in Saudi Arabia, say organisers

Saudi Arabia will continue to be the home of the Dakar Rally for the next few years with race director David Castera telling AFP "we still have so many deserts to explore".

Nasser Al-Attiyah makes it five Dakar Rally titles as Kevin Benavides claims motorcycle glory

Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah won the Dakar Rally car crown for the fifth time on Sunday while Argentine KTM rider Kevin Benavides triumphed on two wheels to take his second title in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Attiyah crowned Dakar Rally driver's champion for 5th time

Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah won his fifth Dakar Rally driver's title and second in a row on Sunday after the iconic test of endurance finished in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Al-Attiyah crowned Dakar Rally driver's champion for fifth time

Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah won his fifth Dakar Rally driver's title and second in a row on Sunday after the iconic test of endurance finished in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Dakar Rally to remain in Saudi Arabia, say organizers

AL-HOFUF, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia will continue to be the home of the Dakar Rally for the next few years with race director David Castera telling AFP “we still have so many deserts to explore.”Castera was speaking after Saturday’s penultimate stage with Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah poised for his fifth title.“I’m very happy we’re staying here, with so many deserts still to explore and with this country’s enormous potential,” he said.Motorsport’s toughest endurance test moved to the conservative Kingdom in 2020 after a spell in South America on an initial 10-year contract.Dakar organizers ASO announced the switch in 2019 saying a new chapter of the gruelling race’s history would be written in the “mysterious and vast deserts” of the land.Castera confirmed a clause in the Saudi deal to pull out after five years would not be taken up.“Today there’s been a big change, it’s progressing at a fast rate,” commented Castera.“I’m not here to play politics but to organize a sporting event which has the legitimacy to exist here because the terrain suits it.”Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in attracting high profile sporting events including tennis, golf and Formula One to its shores and is preparing a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup.And last month five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Saudi side Al-Nassr in a deal worth 200 million euros.In the race, Al-Attiyah should complete the cruise to his fifth title.