The flag fell on the 2022 Dakar Rally earlier today. This is the 44th edition of the famous off-road race. For a third successive year, the event takes place completely within the borders of Saudi Arabia. 2022 Dakar Stage 1a was the very first timed stage of the race.

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Sportsmanship

There was drama even before the event started as Alexandre Pesci’s Rebellion caught fire during the shakedown. Consequently, his teammate Romain Dumas, former Le Mans winner, offered him his own vehicle to be able to compete in the 2022 Dakar. Thankfully, Dumas’ good deed did not go unnoticed. Rival Nasser Al-Attiyah decided to lend him the very same Toyota Hilux that he drove in last year’s edition to enable the Frenchman to race. What a great show of sportsmanship.

Starting order

Stage 1a, also referred to as the prologue, consisted of a short timed section of just 19 km located between the start point of Jeddah and Ha’il. This stage provided a teaser of what we can expect from the top crews over the next two weeks. The top 10 finishers will get to choose their starting position for the 334 km special stage on Sunday with the stage winner getting the position of choice.

When the cars crossed the finish line it was Nasser Al-Attiyah and Matthieu Baumel in the revised Toyota Hilux that was classified quickest with a time of 10 min 56 sec. They led home the first-time entry of Audi Sport, driven by Carlos Sainz and Lucas Crus. Audi’s electric RS Q E-tron was 12 seconds adrift in second, ahead of South Africans Brian Baragwanath (and L Cremer) in the SA-built CR6 buggy as well as Henk Lategan/Brett Cummings (Toyota) who set identical stage times. The top five was rounded out by Sebastien Loeb and new co-driver Fabian Lurquin in the BRX Hunter T1+ machine.

Learn more about the main contenders in the 2022 race by clicking here.

Local driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi was next up in sixth in another Toyota, just two seconds clear of the second BRX car of 2014 winner Nani Roma. South African and former Dakar Rally winner Giniel de Villiers with co-driver Dennis Murphy were others flying the SA colours high at the event by placing their Hilux in the top ten.

General classification after 2022 Dakar Stage 1a

  1. Nasser Al-Attiyah Toyota 10 min 56 sec
  2. Carlos Sainz Audi + 12 sec
  3. Brian Baragwanath Century Racing +36 sec 
  4. Henk Lategan Toyota + 36 sec
  5. Sebastien Loeb BRX +37 sec
  6. Yazeed Al-Rajhi Toyota +47 sec
  7. Nani Roma BRX +49 sec
  8. Giniel de Villiers Toyota +50 sec
  9. Jakub Przygonski Mini +1 min 01 sec
  10. Orlando Terranova BRX +1 min 06 sec