Yazeed Al-Rajhi has taken the lead in the car category at the Dakar 2025, surpassing Henk Lategan. The Saudi driver’s strategic advantage and luck have contributed to his success.
Lategan’s day was marked by difficulties, including a puncture at the start of the day, which resulted in the loss of one of his two spare wheels. This setback significantly impacted his performance, and he ultimately lost 16 minutes and 46 seconds to stage winner Nasser Al-Attiyah.
Lategan described his day as “a disaster,” citing navigation issues and a flat tire. Despite the setbacks, he remains in contention, but his chances of winning have been significantly impacted.
Nasser Al-Attiyah’s Stage Victory
Nasser Al-Attiyah secured his first stage victory in the Dakar 2025, driving his new Dacia Sandrider. This win brings his total stage victories to 49, just one shy of the record held by Ari Vatanen and Stephane Peterhansel.
Al-Attiyah’s performance has closed the gap with Lategan, but he still trails Yazeed Al-Rajhi by a significant margin. The Saudi driver’s pace was impressive, finishing just 3 minutes and 12 seconds behind Al-Attiyah.
The gap between Al-Rajhi and Al-Attiyah remains significant, with Al-Rajhi holding a 25-minute and 21-second lead. However, with only three days remaining, the competition is expected to intensify.
Tomorrow’s stage will feature a 120-kilometer dune section, which will be a crucial test for the drivers. The Empty Quarter will host the final three days of the Dakar 2025, and the competition is expected to be fierce.
Provisional classification in cars, stage 9
Dakar 2025
- Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia) 2h 52:29
- Guillaume De Mevius (Mini) at 2:47
- Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Toyota) at 3:12
- Mattias Ekström (Ford) at 4:48
- Rokas Baciuska (Toyota) at 7:28
- Mitch Guthrie (Ford) at 9:42
- Simon Vitse (MD) at 11:32
- Marcelo Gastaldi (Century) at 14:07
- Cristina Gutierrez (Dacia) at 14:26
- Joao Ferreira (Mini) at 14:48