2023 Dakar stage 3 started at the endpoint of stage two, Al Ula. The stage was supposed to consist of 668 km, broken down into a 447 km timed section and 221 km liaison. However, nature had other ideas… Race director David Castera described this route, which traverses many canyons, as containing “perhaps the most beautiful 50 kilometres of the rally”. However, the racers were too busy trying to stay on course, avoid punctures and mechanical issues to really appreciate the natural beauty.

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Quick Starters

The day started off with the rally’s two leaders trading times. Carlos Sainz (Audi Sport) and Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota Gazoo Racing) were in the hunt early on. But as the crews progressed there were a few other contenders vying for the stage win. Yazeed Al Rajhi (Toyota), Geurlain Chicherit (Prodrive Hunter) and Henk Lategan (TGR) were setting blistering times through the checkpoints, mere seconds apart.

More Bad Luck

2022 Dakar runner-up Sebastien Loeb (BRX Hunter) suffered multiple punctures on stage two which dropped him down the overall order. The nine-time WRC champ had more woes to contend with today as his car ground to halt for 20 minutes. The Frenchman’s ambitions to win his maiden Dakar Rally have all but disappeared.

Sainz also suffered major problems today. He damaged a rear wheel on his Audi, which took him over half an hour to repair. Later in the day navigational issues cost him a further 20 minutes, which means he is no longer the race leader. Lategan, meanwhile, traded times with Chicherit and Orlando Terranova (BRX Hunter). Defending champ Al-Attiyah had lost 17 minutes to the leaders after 288 km.

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More Drama

With a few hundred kilometres left in the stage weather conditions degraded to the point where organisers halted the car and truck categories. The rankings for the day were established from the times achieved at the 377 km-checkpoint. This meant that Guerlain Chicherit achieved the best time of 2023 Dakar stage 3. The Frenchman finished ahead of Lategan and Terranova.

“It’s great! We were on a good pace without pushing especially hard, just keeping the same strategy that we had from the start of this rally,” said Chicherit.

Stephane Peterhansel (Audi Sport) was fourth ahead of Al Rajhi. SA driver Brian Baragwanath (CRT) was sixth. Al-Attiyah was 13th with 2009 winner Giniel de Villiers 10 places further back. Sainz’s woes means that he loses the rally lead as he finished 43rd today.

General classification after 2023 Dakar Stage 3

  1. Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota Gazoo Racing) 12 hr 20 min 33 sec
  2. Yazeed Al Rajhi (Overdrive Hilux) +13 min 20 sec
  3. Stephane Peterhansel (Audi Sport) +20 min 45 sec
  4. Simon Vitse (MD Rally) +24 min 53 sec
  5. Brian Baragwanath (CRT) +26 min 16 sec
  6. Mathieu Serradori (CRT) +27 min 19 sec
  7. Giniel de Villiers (Toyota Gazoo Racing) +32 min 08 sec
  8. Carlos Sainz (Audi Sport) +33 min 11 sec
  9. Lucas Moraes (Overdrive Racing) +33 min 45 sec
  10. Martin Prokop (Orlen Benzina) +35 min 10 sec