Once again, Sébastien Loeb will undoubtedly have to wait an additional year to triumph for the first time on the Dakar (3 times 2nd and twice 3rd). The nine-time WRC world rally champion actually experienced setbacks this Sunday during the 2 marathon stages over two days of a distance of a thousand km through Bisha (Saudi Arabia). After the Spaniard Carlos Sainz, victim of a major accident while landing a jump but who was able to leave with a delay of almost 45 minutes, the French champion in turn lost a lot of time.
Only 23rd in the 1st stage this Saturday, almost a quarter of an hour behind the leader, Sébastien Loeb with his co-driver Fabian Lurquin stopped several times, probably due to an engine problem on their Dacia. First at km 409 where her teammate Cristina Gutiérrez stopped to help them then a few moments later before leaving again.
At the last score, Sébastien Loeb was 29′54 behind the new provisional leader of the event, Yazeed Al-Rajhi. The competitors will continue to advance in this marathon stage. In the middle of the day, they will stop at the first bivouac on their route to spend the night under the stars, without mechanical assistance and with a ration of food distributed by the organization. They will resume their journey Monday morning at dawn to complete the distance separating them from returning to Bisha. The Dakar will end on Friday January 17.