Dacia driver Nasser Al-Attiyah has misplaced his victory in Stage 5 of the Dakar Rally because of a time penalty, with Toyota rival Seth Quintero promoted to the highest spot.
5-time Dakar winner Al-Attiyah had dominated the fifth take a look at between Al’Ula and Ha’il on Thursday to win by 9m59s, however a 10-minute time drop for dropping a spare wheel has left him a second behind Quintero.
Dacia has a novel system the place the spare wheel is encased inside the automotive. There’s a fast launch mechanism which makes life simpler for its crews in case of a puncture, but additionally will increase the chance of the wheel falling off when the automotive hits a bump.
With Al-Attiyah demoted to second, Quintero recorded his second stage win of 2025, having additionally gained the opening take a look at in Bisha on Saturday.
By the way, he did not win that stage on the street both; he was belatedly awarded additional time by organiser ASO for serving to the stranded Ford of four-time champion Carlos Sainz Sr.
The up to date consequence on Thursday means Toyota has now swept the opening week of Dakar, with its manufacturing facility crew and buyer squad Overdrive having gained all 5 phases up to now.
All crews will now halt for the mid-rally relaxation day in Ha’il earlier than setting off for Al Duwadimi on Saturday. The second a part of the occasion encompasses a whole of seven phases, together with a go to to the well-known Empty Quarters desert in Saudi Arabia.
Photographs from Dakar Rally Stage 5
On this article
Mario Galán
Dakar
Nasser Al-Attiyah
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