The new international motorsport season kicked off today with the 2023 Dakar prologue. This was, in essence, the very first race action of the 2023 Dakar Rally. The prologue is a short loop that is run to determine the starting order of the race proper, which takes place tomorrow. Read our ‘Dakar 101‘ article here if you are still learning about the race. The 13 km timed run took place on the shores of Red Sea in Saudi Arabia.

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First Blood

When all the top runners had crossed the line it was two-time DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom who led the timesheets. He was the fastest of the three hybrid-powered Audi entries, quicker than his esteemed teammates, Carlos Sainz and Stephane Peterhansel.

Hunting

Nine-time WRC champion Sebastien Loeb was the second quickest on Prodrive-built Hunter, one second slower over the stage. Peterhansel was third quickest, eleven seconds off Ekstrom’s time. Reigning champion Nasser Al-Attiyah was fourth ahead of Guerlain Chicherit. The Frenchman is driving for his own team GCK Motorsport, but drives the same vehicle as Loeb.

Starting Order

Carlos Sainz was sixth ahead of Yazeed Al-Rajhi. The Saudi driver is an ever-present threat having claimed the final podium step at last year’s event. Henk Lategan was the fastest South African in the car category. 2009 winner Giniel de Villiers was 13th quickest on the prologue. The 2023 Dakar Rally will kick off tomorrow, on 1 January, with a 367 km special near the temporary city set up for the race known as the Sea Camp.

General classification after 2023 Dakar Prologue

  1. Mattias Ekstrom (Audi Sport) 8 min 00 sec
  2. Sébastien Loeb (BRX) + 01 sec
  3. Stephane Peterhansel (Audi Sport) + 11 sec
  4. Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota Gazoo Racing) +12 sec
  5. Guerlain Chicherit (BRX) + 13 sec
  6. Carlos Sainz (Audi Sport) + 14 sec
  7. Yazeed Al Rajhi (Overdrive Hilux) + 16 sec
  8. Jakub Przygonski (X-Raid Mini) +16 sec
  9. Orlando Terranova (BRX) + 20 sec
  10. Henk Lategan (Toyota Gazoo Racing) + 21 sec

Check out the 2023 Dakar Prologue from an onboard camera used during the recce in the video below: