Martin Bonnet et Xavier de Soultrait ont longtemps occupé la deuxième place au général. – FrayMedia
Ce vendredi 17 janvier 2025, les deux hommes ont terminé quatrièmes de la douzième et dernière étape du célèbre rallye-raid, au départ et à l’arrivée de Shubaytah en Arabie saoudite.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000“We'll have a target on our backs.” Before taking off for Saudi Arabia at the end of December, Martin Bonnet, the co-driver from Mende of Xavier de Soultrait (Sébastien Loeb Racing-RZR Factory Racing), the defending champion, knew that this 2025 Dakar Rally was going to be tough. And it was. At the end of the twelfth and final stage (61 km of special), this Friday, January 17, the two friends had to settle for a disappointing 21st position in the general classification in the SSV (side-by-side) category.
A nightmare eleventh stage
However, on the evening of the tenth round of the legendary rally-raid, they were still second. They were ahead of their teammates, Americans Brock Heger and Max Eddy. Together, they dreamed of a historic Polaris double.
The eleventh special stage got the better of the Minnesota firm's hopes. Martin Bonnet and Xavier de Soultrait had to resign themselves to returning to the bivouac after breaking their front differential. “We are disgusted, but it is the harsh law of motorsport”, the driver resigned himself on social networks.
Winners of the first stage
This nightmarish end to the Dakar did not, however, prevent the Soultrait-Bonnet duo from finishing the race well, since they ranked fourth on the last day, at the start and finish of Shubaytah in Saudi Arabia. He was also able to rejoice in the final victory of Heger and Eddy, with whom he had formed close ties during the two weeks of competition.
To stay on a positive note, it should be noted that the two men won the first special and finished second in the 48 hours.
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