RALLY DAKAR 2023

A very demanding second day at the Dakar 2023

The caravan left Sea Camp towards Al'Ula with 430 timed kilometers (589 in total). Most of the special had well-marked dark dirt roads, many winding and stony sections, characteristics that favored pilots with a trajectory in enduro and speed rally (WRC). The dunes appeared, but in a short sequence. Proof of the initial balance in the race, only one winner of the day before repeated the dose.

On motorcycles it was already expected, considering that Ricky Brabec (Honda CRF 450 Rally / Monster Energy Honda) was the first to start, without traces or references from rivals. He and a good part of the peloton encountered rain along the way.

The game of strategy required by the rule has already shown itself: the Australian Daniel Sanders (KTM 450 Rally / GasGas) was the fastest for most of the stage, but slowed down towards the end. It paved the way for the first stage win for 21-year-old American Mason Klein (KTM 450 Rally / Bas KTM). He closed the special in 5h23min04, 1min09 ahead of the Portuguese of German origin Sebastian Bühler (Hero 450 / Hero Motosport). Klein is the new overall leader, 1min41 ahead of Australian Toby Price (KTM 450 Rally / Red Bull KTM).

Frenchman Alexandre Giroud (Yamaha YFM 700 Raptor / Drag'on) was the only one to win again, on quads. He beat Argentinian Pablo Copetti (Yamaha YFM 700 Raptor / Del Amo). Marcelo Medeiros (Yamaha YFM 700 Raptor / Taguatur) faced problems and closed the stage in 14th, 3h24min31 behind Giroud.

Trucks...After dominating the first stage, the Czechs Martin Macik, Frantisek Tomasek and David Svanda (Iveco Powerstar / MM Technology) lost time with problems. The Dutchman Janus Van Kasteren (Iveco Powerstar / De Rooy) was the fastest, but ended up being punished in 15 minutes for missing a waypoint. Open way for Ales Loprais, Petr Pokora and Jaroslav Valtr Jr. (Tatra / Instaforex Loprais), which also took the lead overall(image above).

Cars...Seventh on Sunday's stage, current champions Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel (Toyota Hilux DKR T1+ / Gazoo Racing) showed their strength on the stretch towards Al'Ula, winning with 5h00min26. They were 14 seconds faster than the Dutchman Erik Van Loon and the Frenchman Sebastien Delaunay, with another Hilux DKR T1+. Van Loon even overturned in the prologue but, with little damage, managed to go ahead. Better the day before, Carlos Sainz / Lucas Cruz (Audi RS Q e-Tron / Q Motorsport) crossed in third, at 5min05. Enough to maintain the lead overall, 2min02 ahead of Al-Attiyah / Baumel.

Sebastien Loeb / Fabien Lurquin (Prodrive Hunter / BRX) lost an hour and 26 to punctures and dropped to P.26.

Lucas Moraes and the German Timo Gottschalk (Toyota Hilux DKR T1+ / MEM Overdrive) made another solid and safe stage, with the 11th position (+30min51), the same position that the São Paulo champion, twice Sertões champion, occupies in general. The duo also lost time due to a punctured tire and did a good part of the special with just one spare tire.

UTV...Americans Mitch Guthrie and Kellon Walch (MCE-5 T3-M / Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team) were fastest in the T3 UTV division with a time of 5:38:31, followed by defending champions Chaleco Lopez / Juan Pablo Latrach (Can-Am Maverick / Red Bull Can-Am Factory), 1min25. Austin Jones and Gustavo Gugelmin (Can-Am Maverick / Red Bull Can-Am Factory) finished fifth (+14min15). Great performance by Pamela Bozzano / Cadu Sachs (Can-Am Maverick / Team BBR Pole Position 77), with 14th position (+52min01). Enio Bozzano / Luciano Gomes (Can-Am Maverick / Team BBR Pole Position 77) were P.22 (+1h34min23).

Chaleco is the leader in the accumulated, 8min43 ahead of Seth Quintero / Dennis Zenz (Can-Am Maverick / Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team). Jones / Gugelmin appear in fifth (+16min22).

In T4 (series derivatives), Rodrigo Luppi and Maykel Justo (Can-Am Maverick / South Racing) took third place – victory for Marek Goczal / Maciej Marton (Can-Am Maverick / Energylandia). Cristiano Batista and Spaniard Fausto Mota (Can-Am Maverick / South Racing) were in ninth (+29min43). Bruno Conti (son of Luppi) and the Portuguese Bianchi Prata (Can-Am Maverick / South Racing) closed in 14th (+40min41).

Luppi and Justo are second overall, 5min44 behind Goczal/Marton. Conti / Prata appear in 11th (+41min32); with Batista / Mota in 16th (+1h11min25).

Mundoquatrorodas