“Huge disappointment” for Gard native Valentin Sarreaud, forced to abandon the Dakar a few days before the finish

The co-driver from Vézénobres returned to France on Tuesday, after an engine problem ended his race.

The harsh law of motor sports had spared Christian Lavieille and Valentin Sarreaud during the last two editions of the Dakar, contested together. The Var driver and his Gard navigator hoped to make it three in 2025, but fate decided otherwise. They were unable to present their Optimus buggy at the start of stage 9, this Tuesday, and will not reappear in the race. “It is with great disappointment that we must announce our withdrawal”, the two men announced. “A new engine problem forces us to stop there, despite all the efforts and hard work of the MD Rallye Sport team.”

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“We will come back stronger”

Two weeks earlier, Valentin Sarreaud confided to Midi Libre the ambition “to go for the win in the 2-wheel drive category” The crew had finished in second place in 2023 and 2024. The two accomplices were also in first place in the standings two days ago, Sunday, at the end of the stage 7. A few mishaps had made them fall back to third place on Monday, but the podium was still largely within their reach.

“We leave this edition with the regret of not being able to complete this rally-raid and defend our chances of victory”, saddens the Bagnolais firefighter. He was already on the plane back to France, where he was due to land in the evening, at the time of our press release. “We will come back stronger”, he promises by way of conclusion. See you in January 2026.