Mr Dakar
Peterhansel, the person they name
Mr Dakarhas now surpassed Jean-Louis Schlesser’s six automobile victories, and following his bike victory in 1996, has an ADDC file equaling the eight triumphs of Spanish rider Marc Coma.
“It’s a really special win, a win with a really good car,” he stated on the finish of the Abu Dhabi Sports activities Council stage. “As a driver I made a few mistakes on some dunes, but that’s rallying. I’m delighted to be the first winner with this new generation of cars.”
Misfortunes of Al Attiyah
Defending champion and 2022 Dakar Rally winner Nasser Al Attiyah, co-driven by Frenchman Matthieu Baumel, arrived within the deserts of the United Arab Emirates one level forward of World Rally Championship (WRC) legend Sebastien Loeb .
However a tough touchdown broken a decrease suspension arm and entrance wheel on Qatar’s Toyota Hilux on stage one and the four-time winner needed to catch up over the subsequent 4 days as soon as time penalties had been imposed. imposed as a result of he needed to accept a sixteenth place end.
Unbelievable work
Al Attiyah’s problem for a fourth ADDC win suffered a setback from the beginning, when the 51-year-old suffered a broken entrance proper wheel and decrease suspension arm close to the beginning of the stage and crashed. was compelled to return to the beginning space to hold out emergency repairs. . He suffered huge time penalties of 16 hours.
“Once I crossed the end line of this final stage, I instantly remembered what occurred on the primary stage. It’s kind of disappointing. However to return again sturdy and win the remaining 4 phases was not straightforward, and we did a very unbelievable job,” stated the four-time Dakar winner.
Loeb impresses
Loeb, Al Attiyah’s most important rival and one other mechanical sufferer of stage one, was the day’s third quickest in his Prodrive Hunter, regardless of shedding three minutes with two punctures. He completed eighth on his debut within the occasion. The nine-time WRC champion was clearly impressed by the occasion from his first try. “It’s really special,” he stated.
“The place is gorgeous. We’re in dunes like nowhere else. “It is very thrilling to drive in these situations. It is rather troublesome in some locations. You may plant very simply with some large drops within the dunes. It was necessary to experience right here to have this expertise.”