Dakar 2024: Sainz (car) and Brabec (motorcycle) crowned, the French Loeb and Van Beveren on the podium

Carlos Sainz and Ricky Brabec won the race the 2024 Dakar in Saudi Arabia, the fourth for the Spanish driver, the second for the American biker. The French SçSbastien Loeb and Adrien Van Beveren both placed third.

[Mis à day January 19   10:28] More than 7,500 kilometers after the departure from Al Ula on January 5 – 7,650 precisely including 4,632 of special -, the The 46th edition of the Dakar delivered its verdict this Friday. The most prestigious rally-raid in the world, run for the first time in 1979, crowned two former winners &agrav; Yanbu, a coastal city in Saudi Arabia located on the Red Sea. Already winner in 2010, 2018 and 2020, Carlos Sainz obtained, & 61 years old, his fourth victory while Ricky Brabec had already won. taxed on the race in 2020. As often, but perhaps even more this year, the regularity was é rewarded. The Spaniard, driving his Audi, did not win the race. the slightest step. The American, riding his Honda, only one, the tenth. But by avoiding the many pitfalls of an edition – the fifth run in Saudi Arabia – which is particularly demanding, both for both men and machines, the two champions (without forgetting Carlos Sainz's co-driver Lucas Cruz) won the title. the end of a journey which will not have spared itself. big world.

We have mainly seen it in cars where Many favorites have had at least one dark day. The Saudi Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Toyota), then leader, could only take on the challenge. himself after rolling over during the sixth stage. But Nasser Al-Attiyah (Prodrive), outgoing double winner, Stéphane Peterhansel (Audi), Mattias Ekström (Audi) and Sébastien Loeb (Prodrive) were allé oacute; caught up by major mechanical problems which cost them at best a few hours, at worst abandonment (for Al-Attiyah). So much so that'à Upon arrival, Carlos Sainz won this Dakar 2024 with a significant lead of almost an hour and a half over his first pursuer (1h20 & #39;25"), the Belgian Gilles de Mevius (Toyota). Frenchman Sébastien Loeb completes the podium.

Five stage victories for Loeb but still no Dakar title

Came with the ambition of finally winning this race which had already started. refused à him à seven times, the Alsatian was able to believe in his chances until the penultimate step. But a new mechanical problem (broken right front triangle) made him lose all hope while he was only 13 minutes behind Carlos Sainz at the start. two days before the deadline. The former WRC world champion, who will move to Dacia in 2025, will be able to console himself with his five stage victories, the latest gleaned this Friday on the 175 kilometers of special around Yanbu, but he would certainly have preferred to ride the 175 kilometers of special stage around Yanbu. do like Carlos Sainz and only win the general classification. 

On two wheels, no one will dispute Ricky Brabec's victory. The American showed absolute mastery, both in the sand dunes and on the rocky tracks. Always well placed, the Californian ended up discouraging his competitors, firstly the Botswanan Ross Branch (Hero), a time leader but ultimately relegated. &agrav; second place è more than ten minutes. The Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren undoubtedly believed à for a moment to be able to overturn the table.

But the 33-year-old Northerner, also extremely consistent for two weeks, will still be able to enjoy his first podium on the Dakar after having finished & ;nbsp;twice à his foot (4th in 2017 and 2022). He will have on the handlebars of his Honda ahead of many great champions, such as the Benavides brothers, Kévin the title holder and winner of the ultimate ;tape, and Luciano, often quoted; before departure like the man before departure beat of this edition. Enough to come back even more motivated! next year ?

Cars: the final general classification

1. (=) Sainz/Cruz (Audi) in 48h15'18"
2. (=) De Mevius/Panseri (Toyota) à 1h20'25"
3. (=) Loeb/Lurquin (Prodrive Hunter) à 1h25'12"
4. (=) Chicherit/Winocq (Toyota) à 1h35'59"
5. (=) Prokop/Chytka (Ford) à 2h16'43"
6. (=) Botterill/Cummigs (Toyota) à 2h40'33"
7. (=) De Villiers/Murphy (Toyota) à 2h50'26"
8. (=) Vanagas/Sikk (Toyota) à 2h57'17"
9. (=) Moraes/Monleon (Toyota) à 3h02'12"
10. (=) Serradori/Minaudier (Century) à 3h04'12

Motorcycles: overall final ranking

1. (=) Ricky Brabec (USA/Honda) in 51h30'08"
2. (=) Ross Branch (BWA/Hero) à 10''53"
3. (=) Adrien Van Beveren (FRA/Honda) à 12'25"
4. (+1) Kévin Benavides (ARG/KTM) à 38'48"
5. (+1) Toby Price (AUS/KTM) à 45'28"
6. (-2) Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo (CHI/Honda) à 46'38"
7. (=) Luciano Benavides (ARG/Husqvarna) à 53'31"
8. (=) Daniel Sanders (AUS/GASGAS) à 1h'14'32"
9. (=) Stefan Svitko (SVQ/KTM) à 1h56'28"
10. (=) Martin Michek (RTC/KTM) à 2h48'49"

The 2024 route and the stage winners

• Prologue: Al-Ula – Al-Ula → Ekström/Schareina)
• ÉStep 1 : Alula – Al Henakiyah → De Mevius/Branch
• Éstage 2 : Al Henakiyah – Al Duwadimi → Peterhansel/Cornejo Florimo
• Éstage 3 : Al Duwadimi – Al Salamiya → Moraes/K. Benavides
• ÉStage 4 : Al Salamiya – Al-Hofuf → Loeb/Cornejo Florimo
• Éstep 5 : Al-Hofuf – Shubaytah → Al-Attiyah/Quintanilla
• Éstep 6 : Shubaytah – Shubaytah → Loeb/Van Beveren
• Rest
• ÉStep 7 : Riyadh – Al Duwadimi → Loeb/Cornejo Florimo
• Éstep 8 : Al Duwadimi – Hail → Ekström/K. Benavides
• ÉStep 9 : Hail – Al Ula → Loeb/Van Beveren
• Éstep 10 : Al Ula – Al Ula → Chicherit/Brabec
• Éstep 11 : Al Ula – Yanbu → Chicherit/Branch
• Éstep 12 : Yanbu-Yanbu → Loeb/K. Benavides

Où will compete in the Dakar 2025 ?

While waiting to know the dates and especially the route of the Dakar 2025, normally revealed &agrav; in the fall, we already know that the 47th edition of the prestigious rally-raid will still take place in Saudi Arabia. The departure clause provided for after the first five years in the ten-year contract, starting at in 2020, was not activated, which means that the Gulf Kingdom will still be the playground for participants next year.