Dakar Stage 6A/6B: Loeb wins, Sainz top overall

Sebastien Loeb claimed an impressive victory in Dakar Rally’s 48-hour Stage 6A/6B to move into third place in the overall standings.

The Frenchman steadily extended his lead after passing both Audis, claiming a 2m01s victory over Sainz, who hung on to the lead in the overall standings.

It was Loeb’s second stage victory of 2024 and the 25th of his career, to equal Hiroshi Masuoka, the sixth most decorated driver on the world’s biggest rally-raid.

Reigning champion Al-Attiyah ground to a halt 530km into the stage with mechanical problems.

The Qatari driver was eventually able to get to the finish line but the repair work cost him the best part of three hours, effectively ending his chances of a third Dakar title in succession.

Loeb is now the closest challenger to the Audi duo in third, but 29m31s off the lead with six stages to run in the second week of the marathon.

RALLY GP | VAN BEVEREN WINS

RALLY 2 | LEPAN WINS IN THE RALLY 2 CLASS

Jean-Loup Lepan is the quickest Rally 2 rider to reach the finish of the 48 HR special with a lead of more than 14’ over Toni Mulec. It is his second success this year after his win on stage 2.

CHALLENGER | NUMBER FIVE FOR ERYK

Having trailed by more than 2 minutes after 246 km, Eryk Goczał posted the best time at the following intermediate point (after 295 km) and did not leave the lead until the finishing line to record his fifth in of the year. He finished more than a quarter of an hour in front of his uncle Michał. Cristina Gutiérrez has finished in third, almost 19’ behind. In the general rankings, Eryk is soaring away with a lead of more than 1 hour over Mitch Guthrie.

QUAD | NUMBER 2 FOR GIROUD

Alexandre Giroud has finished with the best time on the 48 HR stage to gain his second victory on this edition of the Dakar. He crossed the finishing line with a time just 25’’ better than Manuel Andújar, which, on a timed special lasting almost ten hours, is a close battle!

SSV | DE SOULTRAIT WINS THE 48 HR STAGE IN HIS SSV

Xavier de Soultrait has achieved the best time in the 48 HR stage to beat Yasir Seaidan by 1’05’’ and pick up his third victory of the year. Sara Price has finished on the bottom step of the podium for this special, more than 6’30’’ behind de Soultrait. In the general rankings, Seaidan has taken advantage of the 36 minutes lost by Jérôme de Sadeleer to take command of the category. Following the mishap experienced by Yazeed Al Rajhi yesterday in the Ultimate class, another Saudi driver has put the smile back on the home crowds faces in the SSV category.

TRUCKS | MAGIC MACIK

Martin Macík has produced the best time in the truck category to leave his nearest pursuers, Mitchel van den Brink and Aleš Loprais trailing by more than one hour. The Czech driver, who has picked up his third victory of the year and leapt up the general rankings, deemed this 48 HR stage as the most difficult in his 12 participations on the Dakar.

Dakar Stage 6 Car Results

Dakar Overall Car Standings

Dakar Bikes Stage 6 Results

Dakar Bikes over Standings