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Dakar Rally 2025: Stage 2 – 48-Hour Chrono Drama Unfolds – Yazeed Al Rajhi leads Dakar 2025 after a big duel with Al-Attiyah

Virgilio Machado by Virgilio Machado
January 9, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Dakar Rally 2025: Stage 2 – 48-Hour Chrono Drama Unfolds – Yazeed Al Rajhi leads Dakar 2025 after a big duel with Al-Attiyah

The 48-Hour Chrono stage of the 2025 Dakar Rally, stretching a grueling 967 kilometers for cars, delivered intense competition, strategic gambits, and dramatic twists as drivers navigated the Saudi Arabian desert. With no service teams allowed overnight, competitors relied on their wits, skills, and each other to survive the stage.


Early Moves: Strategic Starts Pay Off

The opening kilometers saw strategic gambles from Stage 1 pay dividends as competitors who intentionally dropped down the order gained an advantage. Yazeed Al Rajhi, Nasser Al-Attiyah, and rookie standout Guy Botterill emerged at the top of the time sheets early, using their favorable starting positions to set blistering paces.

  • Waypoint 1 (42km): Al Rajhi (Toyota Hilux) led, with Al-Attiyah close behind and Botterill impressing in third.
  • Waypoint 2 (87km): Al Rajhi maintained his lead, while Botterill edged ahead of Al-Attiyah, proving his mettle against seasoned veterans.

Mid-Stage Mayhem: Big Names Struggle

The grueling terrain quickly separated the contenders from the pretenders, with several high-profile struggles:

  • Saood Variawa faced early mechanical troubles, losing significant time and dropping to the back.
  • Carlos Sainz flipped his Ford Raptor at the 327km mark, sustaining cosmetic damage but continuing after losing 20 minutes.
  • Sébastien Loeb encountered electrical issues, forcing him to stop twice and plummeting to 17th overall.

Despite the chaos, Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Henk Lategan and Giniel de Villiers climbed steadily into the top 10, showcasing the team’s depth and resilience.


Al Rajhi and Al-Attiyah Duel

The stage evolved into a fierce duel between Al Rajhi and Al-Attiyah, trading the lead through the dunes and over treacherous rocky sections:

  • 169km Mark: Al-Attiyah briefly led after a swift refueling stop.
  • 373km Mark: Al Rajhi reclaimed the lead, holding a narrow 66-second advantage.

Both drivers exhibited mastery of the desert terrain, with Al Rajhi leveraging local knowledge to maintain a slim edge as they approached the first break bivouac.


Debutant Toby Price Impresses

Making his debut in four wheels, Toby Price, the two-time Dakar motorcycle champion, delivered a standout performance:

  • Waypoint 6 (km 231): Price cracked the top six, handling the transition from bikes to cars with aplomb.
  • Camp E (km 626): Price ended the day in seventh overall, a remarkable feat for a rookie in the car category.

Top 10 Standings After Day 1

  1. Yazeed Al Rajhi (Toyota Hilux) – Leading by 79 seconds.
  2. Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota Hilux) – Staying within striking distance.
  3. Mattias Ekstrom (Ford Raptor) – Solid third, 8:55 off the lead.
  4. Henk Lategan (Toyota Gazoo Racing) – Climbing to fourth with a consistent drive.
  5. Juan Cruz Yacopini (Overdrive Toyota) – Holding fifth.
  6. Guy Botterill (Toyota Gazoo Racing) – Impressive sixth in a breakout performance.
  7. Toby Price (Ford Raptor) – Stunning debut in seventh.
  8. Nani Roma (Ford Raptor) – Reliable and steady in eighth.
  9. Giniel de Villiers (Toyota Gazoo Racing) – Creeping into ninth with precision.
  10. Mathieu Serradori (Century CR7) – Rounding out the top 10.

Comeback of the Day

Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet executed a sensational recovery, clawing their way from 64th at km 87 to 25th by the time they reached Camp E. Their resilience underscored the unpredictable and grueling nature of Dakar Rally.


Day 2: Challenges Await

With up to 456 kilometers left to cover, the competitors face another day of intense racing. Al Rajhi and Al-Attiyah are locked in a battle for supremacy, but mechanical reliability and strategic navigation will play crucial roles in determining the ultimate victors. All eyes will also be on rookie standout Toby Price as he continues to defy expectations.

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