Eight days of the Dakar 2023 are over and the participants rate it as one of the toughest in recent years. Long days and very challenging routes have characterised the Dakar so far. The drivers and co-drivers are happy to be able to rest a little today in Riyadh. For the mechanics, on the other hand, the rest day is a working day. All the vehicles have to be checked and prepared for the second part of the Dakar.
The first part of the Dakar was like a rollercoaster ride. Tyre failures, night shifts and other problems alternated with numerous good performances, top 5 positions and yesterday’s stage win by Joao Ferreira. The extreme weather in Saudi Arabia with heavy rain and single-digit temperatures is also a challenge.
After the rest day, the participants only have six stages to go until the finish in Dammam, but even these will not be less strenuous. The route leads the pilots to the south-east of Saudi Arabia and into the “Empty Quarter”. There, the second marathon stage will be completed. The participants still have a total of 3,206 kilometres to go, 1,219 of which are against the clock.
STATEMENTS
Tobias Quandt, X-raid Team Manager: “The Dakar so far has been extremely exhausting for everyone involved. The bad weather in particular has put a damper on everyone’s mood. From a sporting point of view we have mixed feelings. We are very happy about Joao’s day victory in the side-by-side. This shows that we have made good progress with our development. Things are also going better and better with our MINI JCW Rally Plus. We were able to solve some of the problems that always occur with a new racing car. Unfortunately, the two-wheel drive MINI JCW Buggy is at a disadvantage due to the regulations. Today it’s all about preparing the cars for the second week. We only have six days to go, but they certainly won’t be any less exhausting.”
Kuba Przygonski: “This Dakar is more difficult than in previous years. I like that. For sure we had some tough moments with stones, rain and rivers that only formed because of the rain. It was not always easy for us. On the second day we lost a lot of time. We are getting better with the new MINI from day to day and have already been able to make some improvements. We are also getting faster and faster. In the second week we will try to improve further.”
Sebastian Halpern: “The first part of the Dakar was really tough. Six days ago we were still in 46th place in the overall standings. Now we are 14th and happy about it. After the rest day we want to attack to make the jump into the top 10. That’s the idea at least.”
Annett Fischer: “The rest day is really necessary. I don’t think I have ever experienced such a difficult Dakar. Team mates that have participated in more Dakars see it the same way. We are coming in late, after long stages and very long liaisons. The organisers had actually announced in advance that the first week would be comparatively easy and the second week really tough. I’m excited to see what’s in store for us.“
Ahmed Alkuwari: “I am very happy that we are doing the rest day today. It’s been tough days so far. I have participated in four Dakars and this is the toughest edition. I have never experienced so many long days and so many tough stages. Every special stage had at least 30 to 40 kilometres of dunes.”
Camelia Liparoti: “After eight days of Dakar, we finally have a rest day. We really deserved it. Looking back, the fourth day set us back extremely. We lost a few hours there.”
Ignacio Casale: “This Dakar is harder than the previous editions. Hopefully I can rest today and attack 100% again tomorrow. I feel comfortable in the side-by-side. When I was still on the quad, we had to get up much earlier and it was also much more dangerous. I think this is the start of a great project.”
Joao Ferreira: “The Dakar has been really tough for us so far. We had a few problems at the beginning and arrived at the bivouac in the middle of the night a few times. But that’s the Dakar. On the other hand, we have managed to finish second, third and yesterday we won the day. From that point of view, the first week went well for us.
Overall stanings T1-category after SS8
1. N. Al-Attiyah / M. Baumel – Toyota – 31h 02m 58s
2. H. Lategan / B. Cummings – Toyota – 32h 06m 44s
3. L. Moraes / T. Gottschalk – Toyota – 32h 23m 20s
4. S. Loeb / F. Lurquin – BRX – 32h 55m 04s
5. G. de Villiers / D. Murphy – Toyota – 33h 07m 18s
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14. S. Halpern / B. Graue – MINI JCW Rally Plus – 35h 05m 23s
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19. Sh. K. Al-Qassimi / O. Floene – MINI JCW Buggy – 36h 34m 18s
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25. D. Krotov / K. Zhiltsov – MINI JCW Buggy – 37h 04m 53s
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29. J. Przygonski / A. Monleon – MINI JCW Rally Plus – 38h 19m 07s
Overall stanings T3 Lightweight Prototype-category after SS8
1. G. de Mevius / F. Cazalet – OT3 – 36h 03m 09s
2. A. Jones / G. Gugelmin – Can-Am – 36h 06m 28s
3. S. Quintero / D. Zenz – Can-Am – 37h 05m 34s
4. F. Lopez / J. Latrach – Can-Am – 38h 34m 00s
5. C. Gutierrez / P. Moreno – Can-Am – 38h 56m 46s
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10. I. Casale / A. Leon – X-raid YXZ1000R Turbo Prototype – 42h 51m 26s
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14. A. Fischer / A. Seel – X-raid YXZ1000R Turbo Prototype – 45h 57m 57s
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17. R. Porém / A. Sanz – X-raid YXZ1000R Turbo Prototype – 47h 10m 27s
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19. A. Alkuwari / M. Lucchese – X-raid YXZ1000R Turbo Prototype – 48h 52m 32s
20. C. Liparoti / X. Blanco – X-raid YXZ1000R Turbo Prototype – 49h 13m 03s
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37. J. Ferreira / F. Palmeiro – X-raid YXZ1000R Turbo Prototype – 80h 56m 51s
