2024-01-06 00:04:38
The 2024 Dakar Rally is underway and for the drivers and teams to stretch their legs and get ready for this tough challenge, this Friday the Prologue was run, a small stage of 157 kilometers, just 27 of them timed, which began to organize the departure for Stage 1 in AlUla.
Audi was the one who gave the first blow thanks to the Swede Mattias Ekström, who set the best time of the day in the cars with 16:30 minutes, 23 seconds ahead of the American Seth Quintero (Toyota) and 38 seconds faster than the Frenchman Sébastien Loeb and his Hunter T1+ from the BRX team.
Surprisingly, the winner of the last two years, Nasser Al-Attiyah, took the Prologue in stride and was 1:01 minutes behind the lead.
“It’s a good start and I’m very satisfied with the handling of the car. The stage was short, we still made some small mistakes because there were many lines, but we ended up positioned the way I wanted. Tomorrow will be a long day,” said the Qatari, who left Toyota to face the Dakar this year in a Hunter T1+ with his own team.
On the motorcycle side, Spaniard Tosha Schareina set the pace for the day, giving Honda its first victory of the race.
“I felt super comfortable in this prologue, which was unlike anything we usually find, with more distance, 27 kilometers, a 100% sand profile and much more navigation than we are used to. But we have to maintain the feet on the ground because the real race starts tomorrow.”
The official driver of the Japanese brand left the day’s time at 17:35 minutes, 12 seconds ahead of the Australian Daniel Sanders (GasGas) and 19 seconds faster than the surprising Ross Branch, the Botswana driver who continues to shine with his Hero .
The Mexicans
The national army in the Dakar 2024 also took part in the Prologue, with Héctor Guerrero, in the motorcycle division, finishing in 139th place, while the duo of Daniel González and Jorge Hernández placed 34th in the SSV division of the side by sides.
Stage 1
The first stage of the Dakar 2024 will be run this Saturday between AlUla and Al Henakiyah, with a total route of 532 kilometers, with 405 kilometers of them timed, which will take place in an area of volcanoes and tracks with stones and dirt, which will make it difficult. navigation, but above all, the decisions to accelerate fully or continue managing time.
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