The third competitive leg of the world’s most gruelling off-road race took place today. 2021 Dakar Stage 3 was a loop that started and ended in Wadi Ad-Dawasir. Click here to read our report after Stage 2. The Gateway to the Empty quarter dished up smaller chains of dunes interspersed with faster sections. After a 227 km liaison to get to the start of the special stage the competitors raced over 403 km.

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Stage 2 winner Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota Hilux) was first on the road today and set a gentle pace early on. His caution seemed to pay off as Stage 1 winner Carlos Sainz (Mini) and local Yazeed Al-Rajhi both strayed from the route, costing both crews dearly. Toyota Gazoo Racing teammates Giniel de Villiers and Henk Lategan both ran well early on, with the latter leading the timesheet at one point. At the halfway point Al-Attiyah led Lategan by 2 min 43 sec. Stéphane Peterhansel (Mini) moved up to third position.

When all the front-running cars crossed the finish line it was Al-Attiyah who triumphed on 2021 Dakar Stage 3, his third stage victory of the 2021 event. The Qatari clawed back time on the Mini of Peterhansel and jumped one position on the overall race rankings into second place. Dakar rookie Lategan was second today just 2 min 27 sec adrift of his Toyota teammate. Stephane Peterhansel was third, with his teamamate Sainz falling down the order. Sebastien Loeb finished the stage in sixth place behind Yasir Seaidan and Sheik Al Qassimi. At the time of writing Giniel de Villiers was classified 23rd.

General classification after 2021 Dakar Stage 3

  1. Stephane Peterhansel Mini                      10 hours 39 min 02 sec
  2. Nasser Al-Attiyah Toyota                 +5 min 09 sec
  3. Mathieu Serradori Century                +26 min 21 sec
  4. Carlos Sainz                Mini                      +33 min 34 sec
  5. Jakub Przygonski Toyota                 +44 min 22 sec
  6. Sebastien Loeb BRX                       +45 min 49 sec
  7. Henk Lategan                Toyota                 +47 min 25 sec
  8. Yasir Seaidan                Century                +51 min 50 sec
  9. Sheik Khalid Al Qassimi Peugeot               +52 min 08 sec
  10. Martin Prokop                Ford                      +56 min 30 sec