RALLY DAKAR 2023

Third stage of the 2023 Dakar Rally brings rocks, sand, rain and mud

Ha'il (Saudi Arabia) – Unlike the typical landscapes of the Dakar Rally, usually with a lot of sun and heat in the desert, the third stage of the 2023 edition was marked by varied challenges, which included rocks, sand, rain and mud. This Tuesday's route (1/3) totaled 669 kilometers between Alula and Ha'il, in Saudi Arabia – 447 of them in specials (timed sections).

The Monster Energy Honda team took a big hit after Ricky Brabec retired. The first driver from the United States to win the Dakar Rally, in 2020, suffered a crash after 274 km of special. He was rescued by helicopter and taken to the local hospital. After all the tests, Ha'il's medical team says there were no fractures or other serious injuries. As a precaution, Brabec will remain under observation for another 24 hours, but his condition is good.

Pablo Quintanilla was the highlight of the team with eighth place in the third stage, followed by Adrien Van Beveren, in ninth. José Ignacio “Nacho” Cornejo ended the day in 11th position. In this way, Quintanilla and Van Beveren maintain their places in the general classification of the bikes, in seventh and eighth respectively, while Nacho occupies the 13th place in the table.

The fourth stage of the 2023 Dakar Rally, this Wednesday (4/1), will be held “in a loop”, starting and finishing at the Ha’il camp. The special will be 425 km long, and the total route for the day, counting displacements, includes 573 km. Expecting sunny weather, there will be steep sand hills for the first 100 kilometers of the stage. After that, navigation will be quite demanding on the sandy tracks that will take the competitors back to Ha'il. In addition to sand, the route features dirt floors and rocky stretches.

The race is hosted by Saudi Arabia for the fourth consecutive year and has a total route of around 8,500 km - approximately 4,600 of which are against the clock. The dispute, which started on the beaches of the Red Sea, on the 1st of January, ends on the sands of the Persian Gulf, in Damman, on the 15th of January.

* The itinerary is provided by the organization of the event and is subject to change.

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