AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear

Lategan Steals the Spotlight in Dramatic Dakar 2025 Prologue Showdown

Redação by Redação
January 6, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Lategan Steals the Spotlight in Dramatic Dakar 2025 Prologue Showdown

Bisha, Saudi Arabia – The 2025 Dakar Rally roared to life as Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Henk Lategan delivered a sensational performance on the tricky 29km prologue stage, threading through the desert terrain with precision to clock the fastest time. The South African ace, alongside co-driver Brett Cummings, finished just one second ahead of M-Sport Ford’s Mattias Ekström, setting the stage for a thrilling rally.

A Fiery Start: Top Contenders Flex Their Muscles

Lategan’s blistering 15m28s run gave him an edge over Ekström, who lamented a slight mistake that cost him precious seconds.
“I knew I lost time with that hairpin,” Ekström admitted. “It was like racing between trees—chaotic but exhilarating.”

Five-time Dakar champion Nasser Al-Attiyah, piloting a Dacia Sandrider, clinched third, 20 seconds off Lategan’s pace. The Qatari veteran hailed the challenging opener:
“It was tricky, but I’m happy to start strong and confident. Strategy will be everything in the coming days.”

Rounding out the top five were three-time W2RC champion Rokas Baciuška in an Overdrive Racing Toyota and Century Racing’s Brian Baragwanath, whose determined drive placed him 30 seconds adrift.

Rising Stars Shine in the Prologue

It was a promising debut for Dakar rookies Toby Price and Sam Sunderland, who transitioned from two wheels to four. The former bike champions showcased their adaptability in an Overdrive Racing Hilux, finishing just 44 seconds behind Lategan.

Meanwhile, Sébastien Loeb, driving the second Dacia Sandrider, was satisfied with a sixth-place finish. “We kept it clean and made it into the top 10, which was our goal. Tomorrow, the real test begins,” Loeb commented.

Strategic Moves: The Importance of the 48-Hour Chrono

The prologue served as a precursor to the grueling 48-hour Chrono stage beginning Sunday. Crews must navigate over 400km of treacherous terrain during Saturday’s loop around Bisha before the two-day marathon, where strategic road placement will play a critical role.

Al-Attiyah, likely to start eighth on the road, emphasized the importance of positioning:
“The Chrono stage is where everything changes. We’ve got a solid strategy to minimize time loss and keep our momentum.”

Defending Dakar champion Carlos Sainz finds himself outside the top 10, a deliberate move to take advantage of cleaner conditions. However, the flip side means leading the pack in the Chrono stage—a daunting prospect.

Prologue Drama and Lessons Learned

Not everyone escaped the prologue unscathed. X-raid Mini JCW’s Guillaume de Mévius suffered a puncture that cost him four minutes, while M-Sport Ford’s Mitch Guthrie and Overdrive Racing’s Yazeed Al Rajhi struggled to break into the top 10.

Reflecting on his strong start, Lategan acknowledged the fine line between success and disaster:
“You can be fast or you can be nowhere. We pushed hard, but it’s a delicate balance on stages like this.”

Leaderboard Highlights

  1. Henk Lategan/Brett Cummings (Toyota Gazoo Racing) – 15m28s
  2. Mattias Ekström/Emil Bergkvist (M-Sport Ford) – +1s
  3. Nasser Al-Attiyah/Edouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandriders) – +20s
  4. Rokas Baciuška/Oriol Mena (Overdrive Racing) – +21s
  5. Brian Baragwanath/Leonard Cremer (Century Racing) – +30s
  6. Sébastien Loeb/Fabian Lurquin (Dacia Sandriders) – +33s

The Road Ahead

As the rally progresses, the stakes will rise, and every second will count. The 48-hour Chrono stage looms as the first major hurdle where fortunes could change dramatically. Lategan’s stellar start is a promising omen, but Dakar is a marathon, not a sprint, and the real battle is just beginning.

Share212Tweet133Send

Related Posts

George Russell’s Epic Showdown with Charles Leclerc: Unraveling the Drama of the Hungarian GP
Motorsports

George Russell’s Epic Showdown with Charles Leclerc: Unraveling the Drama of the Hungarian GP

Formula One F1 - Hungarian Grand Prix - Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary - August 3, 2025 Mercedes' George Russell celebrates on...

by Miguel Cunha
August 4, 2025
Max Verstappen’s Secret Mercedes Talks Exposed: Media Avalanche and Outrage Explained
Motorsports

Max Verstappen’s Secret Mercedes Talks Exposed: Media Avalanche and Outrage Explained

Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

by Redação
August 4, 2025
Lawson Triumphs Over Verstappen in Grand Style, Redefining F1 Dynamics for the Future
Motorsports

Lawson Triumphs Over Verstappen in Grand Style, Redefining F1 Dynamics for the Future

Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

by Carl Harrison
August 4, 2025
Ferrari’s Heartbreak and Red Bull’s Demise: Dramatic Twists at F1 Hungarian Grand Prix
Motorsports

Ferrari’s Heartbreak and Red Bull’s Demise: Dramatic Twists at F1 Hungarian Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Hungarian Grand Prix - Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary - August 3, 2025 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in action...

by Redação
August 4, 2025

Recent News

VinFast apresenta no CES “mini” SUV 100% elétrico

VinFast inaugurates its first factory in India.

August 4, 2025
Jogadores do Borussia de Dortmund vão receber elétricos da Polestar

Players of Borussia Dortmund will receive electric cars from Polestar.

August 4, 2025
BMW inicia produção em série da nova geração de motores elétricos

BMW begins series production of the new generation of electric motors.

August 4, 2025
George Russell’s Epic Showdown with Charles Leclerc: Unraveling the Drama of the Hungarian GP

George Russell’s Epic Showdown with Charles Leclerc: Unraveling the Drama of the Hungarian GP

August 4, 2025

Newsletter

  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TECHNICAL INFORMATION
  • EDITORIAL STATUS
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

Enable Notifications OK No thanks