Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah takes early Dakar lead

ByReuters

Updated 07/01/2019 at 23:25 GMT

Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah led the Dakar Rally after the first timed stage through the Peruvian desert dunes from Lima to Pisco on Monday.

Toyota's driver Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar and his co-driver Mathieu Baumel of France compete during Stage 1 of the Dakar 2019 between Lima and Pisco, Peru, on January 7, 2019.

Image credit: Getty Images

The two-times Dakar winner, driving for a South African Toyota team, led Spain's reigning champion and double Dakar winner Carlos Sainz by nearly two minutes after the 84km opening stage.

Sainz, in an X-Raid Mini buggy, had started first of the car drivers but had to settle for second at the end of the day with Polish racer Jakub Przygonski a second behind in an X-Raid Mini 4x4.

WRC

Rally driver Breen dies aged 33 after testing accident

13/04/2023 at 15:41

"It was quite a short start to the rally but quite difficult. We tried to catch Carlos over the last 10 km from the finish," said Al-Attiyah.

Spanish Honda rider Joan Barreda led the motorcycle category, one and a half minutes ahead of Chilean Pablo Quintanilla.

A total of 334 vehicles started the 41st edition of the rally, which is run entirely in Peru this year, with 541 competitors.

The endurance rally, regarded as the world's toughest motorsport challenge and staged in South America since being switched from Africa in 2009 for security reasons, ends in Lima on Jan. 17.

WRC

French rider Cherpin dies from injuries in Dakar rally crash

15/01/2021 at 09:28

WRC

Indian rider Santosh flown to hospital after Dakar Rally crash

06/01/2021 at 19:16

WRC

Ogier set for seventh title after Evans crashes in Monza

05/12/2020 at 15:18

Join 3M+ users on app

Stay up to date with the latest news, results and live sports

Download

Scan me