The extreme demand of the Dakar, the aura of adventure that ignites in these stratospheric cars, has been reflected in the sixth stage with all its harshness. The Dakar has more than 8,000 kilometers in its journey through stones, sands and dunes in Saudi Arabia and the two Audi vehicles with options to win the race have been left stranded in separate accidents in the same kilometer, an already cursed hole for the German brand at point 212 of the special.
Carlos Sainz says goodbye to his chances of winning the rally and Stephane Peterhansel, ‘mister Dakar’, he withdrew when his co-pilot was evacuated by helicopter with back injuries.
Carlos Sainz was the fourth classified overall with Peterhansel running second just behind leader Al Attiyah, who now has a clear path to victory. Both have said see you later at the same point in the desert.
The first reports were confusing and referred to the fact that the two Audis had collided with each other and that for this reason they were both standing at the same point. But not.
The two Audi RS Q e-tron each sailed by their side a few minutes apart, but both fell into a hollow of gold-colored sand that left multiple sequels to both participants.
The two Audis, standing facing each other in the Dakar
The car owned by Carlos Sainz and his co-driver Lucas Cruz suffered the worst damage, when the left front wheel came off. As the day progressed, the reports maintained that the Spaniards’ Audi was destroyed and that they were waiting for the assistance to find out if they could continue in the race.
The Audi had damage to the steering, battery and suspensions. Serious difficulties to continue. In any case, the rally dakar is over for the veteran Spanish pilot.
To round off the day so in favor of Al Attiyahthe Saudi Yaseed Al Rajhi (Overdrive) also suffered problems with his car and lost a lot of time when he was classified third overall.
