Dakar Rally - Sainz won the first stage

The Spaniard driving the hybrid Audi was 23 seconds ahead of the French Sébastien Loeb and almost two minutes ahead of the Saudi Jazid al-Rajshi.

Among the motorcyclists, the American Ricky Brabec, racing with Honda, was the fastest on Sunday. British champion Sam Sunderland fell and was hospitalized, so he was forced to give up the fight.

On the first long day of the race, the field started from the beach camp near Janbu and returned there, in addition to a 234-kilometer connecting stage, it completed a 367-kilometer speed section.

According to the competition's website, the trio of Miklós Kovács, Zsolt Czeglédi and László Ács finished 23rd with Scania. Zsolt Darázzi, supplemented by the French-Slovak navigator-mechanic pair Pierre Calmon and Palco Lubomir, has not yet reached the finish line.

Together with the prologue, the participants have to complete almost 5,000 kilometers of speed stages before arriving at the finish line on January 15. The total distance of the race, including connecting sections, is more than 8,500 kilometers.

Results:

Stage 1, Janbu-Janbu (367 km high-speed):

motorists:

1. Carlos Sainz, Lucas Cruz (Spain, Audi) 3:20:41

2. Sebastien Loeb, Fabian Lurquin (France, Belgium, Prodrive Hunter) 23 seconds down

3. Jazid al-Rajshi, Dirk von Zitzewitz (Saudi, German, Toyota) 1:59 p h.

The organizers have not yet announced the composite standings.

bikers:

1. Ricky Brabec (USA, Honda) 3:31:10 h

2. Kevin Benavides (Argentina, KTM) 44 sec h.

3. Mason Klein (American, KTM) with the same time

in the composite:

1. Ricky Brabec (USA, Honda) 4:14:10 h

2. Kevin Benavides (Argentina, KTM) 19 sec h.

3. Toby Price (Australian, KTM) 39 sec h.

On Tuesday, the 588 kilometers between Jeddah and al-Ula await the competitors, the measured section will be 430 kilometers.

(Source: Source: sportrajongo.hu, mti/Photo: pixabay, mti)