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Following stage 1A’s conclusion, the RallyGP’s top fifteen competitors selected their starting positions for the day’s special stage. Subsequently, remaining category participants followed, ordered by their qualifying special results. The Rally2 category’s top ten and the quads’ top five commenced six minutes after the final RallyGP racer, in reverse order of ranking. The remaining Rally2 and quads competitors then proceeded in a combined list based on their initial special stage qualification rankings.
Despite setbacks from COVID-19 cases forcing Mitch Guthrie and Guillame de Mevius’ co-driver, Tom Colsoul, to withdraw, Red Bull shone in stage 1A, securing three of the top four spots. Andreas Mikkelsen and Kellon Walch proved exceptional replacements. Red Bull’s drivers appear poised for top overall standings after stage 1B.
Stage 1B—Ha’il to Ha’il—continues this Sunday, covering 546 km with a 334 km special stage.
Northern Saudi Arabia’s mountainous terrain adds to the Dakar’s diverse challenges. Sand features prominently, mainly as track sections in this stage. However, the region’s characteristic navigational complexities will be present. Competitors must maintain precision: roadbook deviations incur time penalties.
Saturday’s snapshot
In the light prototype class, Spain’s Cristina Gutiérrez (Red Bull Off-Road Team USA) finished the prologue 44 seconds behind American Seth Quintero (Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team USA), the leading racer.
Argentine Manuel Andujar (7240 Team), the 2021 champion, triumphed in the quad category, completing the course in 1 hour, 10 minutes, and 10 seconds—1 minute and 35 seconds ahead of Frenchman Alexandre Giroud (Yamaha), who finished second.
In the truck category, Eduard Nikolaev secured victory. The Kamaz team leader outpaced Dmity Sotnikov, Andrey Karginov, and Anton Shibalov. Ignacio Casale finished fifth, followed by Gert Huzink, Janus Van Kasteren, and Martin Macik, who trailed Nikolaev by just 41 seconds in eighth place.
In the motorcycle category, Austrian Daniel Sanders (Gas Gas) won the Dakar 2022 prologue’s 19-kilometer timed section, clocking 55 minutes and 30 seconds. He bested Chilean Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) and Botswana’s Ross Branch (Yamaha) by one minute and 55 seconds.
Al Attiyah completed the 19-kilometer special stage in 10 minutes and 5n:rnrn The Dakar Rally’s Saudi Arabian adventure continues.
You can also track the Dakar Rally broadcast here.
Here’s how the 2022 Dakar commenced.
A motorcyclist’s mid-race gesture captured.
Day one’s truck category standings.
Presidential greetings for Stéphane Peterhansel.
Remarks from Kevin Benavides.
Nasser S Al Attiyah topped the car category standings on the opening day.
Yazeed Racing geared up for Dakar 2022.
Comments by Nacho Cornejo.
Stéphane Peterhansel in action.
The 2022 Dakar Rally unfolds across Saudi Arabia. Jeddah serves as both the starting and finishing point. The itinerary additionally comprises Hail, Al Artawiyah, Al Qaisumah, Riyadh, Ad Dawadimi, Wadi ad-Dawasir, and Bisha.
Statements by Stéphane Peterhansel.
Competitor Daniel Sanders seized the early lead in the motorbike division on the inaugural day.
Motorcycles are poised to commence their Dakar 2022 expedition.
The Dakar 2022 itinerary and timetable are available.
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A recap of Dakar 2022‘s opening day highlights