Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Despite a number of punctures on the rocky stage 5, Lategan maintained his overall lead in the car category of Dakar 2025. Picture: SUPPLIED
South African Henk Lategan stretched his Dakar Rally lead on Thursday while a 10-minute penalty denied Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah a first-stage win for Dacia after a dominant day in the Saudi Arabian desert.
Lategan (Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux) led Saudi local hero Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Toyota Overdrive Hilux) by 10 min 17 sec overall after finishing third in the 428km stage 5 from Al Ula to Hail.
“We did a good job. It was a high pace, which means it was easy to make mistakes and lose time. I’m happy with the whole week, even if starting first the day after tomorrow wasn’t part of the plan,” said Lategan.
Friday is a rest day, with the second half of the two-week event starting on Saturday from Hail to Al-Duwadimi.
Five-time Dakar winner al-Attiyah had celebrated a first-stage win for the Renault-owned Dacia brand but was then penalised for arriving at the finish without a spare wheel.
Nasser Al-Attiyah in the Dacia Sandrider on stage 5. Picture: REUTERS
Toyota’s American Seth Quintero was promoted to stage winner, his second of the event with the first also awarded some hours after the finish, by a single second after al-Attiyah’s penalty.
Al-Attiyah remained 35 minutes behind Lategan after starting the stage 35 min 53 sec adrift.
Without the penalty he would have had a career 49th stage win, one short of the record held jointly by Stephane Peterhansel and Ari Vatanen.
The 54-year-old is still waiting to extend his record of winning at least one stage in the Dakar Rally to 18 consecutive editions.
There was no change at the top of the motorcycle category either, with Australian KTM rider Daniel Sanders 7 min 2 sec clear of Spaniard Tosha Schareina. Botswana’s Ross Branch stayed third.
“On the last 40km, I had a little navigation instrument problem again. I’m just disappointed,” said Sanders, who has led since day one. “I’m glad it happened at the end of the stage when I was with other riders, otherwise I would have been stuck.”
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
MOTORSPORT
SA’s Lategan stretches Dakar lead on stage 5
South African Henk Lategan stretched his Dakar Rally lead on Thursday while a 10-minute penalty denied Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah a first-stage win for Dacia after a dominant day in the Saudi Arabian desert.
Lategan (Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux) led Saudi local hero Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Toyota Overdrive Hilux) by 10 min 17 sec overall after finishing third in the 428km stage 5 from Al Ula to Hail.
“We did a good job. It was a high pace, which means it was easy to make mistakes and lose time. I’m happy with the whole week, even if starting first the day after tomorrow wasn’t part of the plan,” said Lategan.
Friday is a rest day, with the second half of the two-week event starting on Saturday from Hail to Al-Duwadimi.
Five-time Dakar winner al-Attiyah had celebrated a first-stage win for the Renault-owned Dacia brand but was then penalised for arriving at the finish without a spare wheel.
Toyota’s American Seth Quintero was promoted to stage winner, his second of the event with the first also awarded some hours after the finish, by a single second after al-Attiyah’s penalty.
Al-Attiyah remained 35 minutes behind Lategan after starting the stage 35 min 53 sec adrift.
Without the penalty he would have had a career 49th stage win, one short of the record held jointly by Stephane Peterhansel and Ari Vatanen.
The 54-year-old is still waiting to extend his record of winning at least one stage in the Dakar Rally to 18 consecutive editions.
There was no change at the top of the motorcycle category either, with Australian KTM rider Daniel Sanders 7 min 2 sec clear of Spaniard Tosha Schareina. Botswana’s Ross Branch stayed third.
“On the last 40km, I had a little navigation instrument problem again. I’m just disappointed,” said Sanders, who has led since day one. “I’m glad it happened at the end of the stage when I was with other riders, otherwise I would have been stuck.”
Reuters
Toyota Hilux teammates collide at Dakar Rally
Best sports cars of 2024 set pulses racing
Bernie Ecclestone puts ‘greatest collection of GP cars’ on auction
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.