Despite breaking a suspension against a rock at kilometer 132 and a puncture at the end of the stage, Sébastien Loeb managed to complete the penultimate special stage of the Dakar. The BRX driver is 1h27’15” behind the day’s winner, Guerlain Chicherit (Toyota).
While the setbacks of Lucas Moraes, who lost more than three hours while he was on the podium this morning, could give Loeb hope of retaining his second place overall, the Alsatian ultimately fell to third place, almost eight minutes behind Guillaume de Mévius (Toyota), revelation of this Dakar 2024.
“We started by breaking a triangle by hitting a stone hidden behind a peak,” summarized Loeb at the finish line. It was over, we didn’t have the part in the car so we stayed at the side of the track for a good hour before a Chinese crew on Hunter who had the part helped us out and we could change, repair and to share out. Then we punctured, punctured, punctured but we ended up making it to the end. We thought we would give up but here we are, at the finish, with a car in poor condition. »
The young Belgian, who is 1h27’06 behind Carlos Sainz, should reach the podium in his first participation at the wheel of a top car. The Spaniard only has to perform on Friday, over the 175 km of the last special, to sign his fourth success on the Dakar.
Guerlain Chicherit, who finished this Dakar strongly with two victories in two days, is at the foot of the podium, seven minutes behind Loeb. The Czech Martin Prokop (Ford) reached the Top 5 thanks to the crash of Mathieu Serradori, who lost almost an hour and a half.
