JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia): Qatar’s Khalifa Al Attiyah and navigator Paulo Ceci won the last stage in the SSV T4 category before
the rest day after problems at the start of the race.
But a consistent run through the remaining six days enabled the Qatari to consolidate his positions inside the top 10 and he reached the finish ramp in ninth place in 58hrs 23min 20sec.
The South Racing Can-Am Team controlled the Dakar Rally from start-to-finish with Chilean driver Francisco Lopez claiming victory and South Racing Can-Am Maverick X3s filling the top six positions and eight places inside the top 10 with all 12 cars reaching the finish.
Lopez and fellow Chilean navigator Juan Pablo Latrach led from the second stage to the start of day six and then slipped to third place in the Copec-supported Can-Am after an accident on a sand dune.
But the 2019 category winner won four of the six special stages that took place after the rest day in Ha’il and hit the front again on day nine.
The Chilean former enduro rider won half of the 12 specials on his way to a winning margin of 17min 23sec.
“This year was very difficult for preparation due to the big problems with COVID all over the world. But I’m very
happy for my sponsors, for my country and for my co-pilot Juan Pablo. Last year I finished on the podium but the win was not possible, but this year I am very happy with the win,” said Lopez.
Young American Austin Jones and his Brazilian co-driver Gustavo Gugelmin led the event after stage one in their Monster Energy Can-Am and were third at the rest day.
The Arizona-based racer snatched the outright lead on day eight and then held second place for the
remainder of the race to confirm the runner-up spot.
2021 Dakar Rally – SSV T4 podium winners:
1. Francisco Lopez (CHI)/Juan Pablo Latrach (CHI) South Racing Can-Am Maverick X3 (53hrs 41min 02sec)
2. Austin Jones (USA)/Gustavo Gugelmin (BRA) Monster Energy Can-Am Maverick X3 (53hrs 58min 25sec)
3. Aron Domzala (POL)/Maciej Marton (POL) Monster Energy Can-Am Maverick X3 (54hrs 32min 55sec)
4. Michal Goczal )POL)/Szymon Gospodarczk (POL) Energylandia Can-Am
Maverick X3 54hrs 55min 00sec
5. Reinaldo Varela (BRA)/Maykel Justo (BRA) Monster Energy Can-Am
Maverick X3 55hrs 08min 07sec
6. Kees Koolen (NLD)/Jurgen van den Goorbergh (NLD) South Racing
Can-Am Maverick X3 57hrs 31min 49sec
7. Jose Antonio Lopez (ESP)/Diego Ortego Gil (ESP) Can-Am Maverick X3
57hrs 39min 26sec
8. Marek Goczal )POL)/Rafal Marton (POL) Energylandia Can-Am Maverick
X3 58hrs 22min 11sec
9. Khalifa Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Paolo Ceci (ITA) South Racing Can-Am
Maverick X3 58hrs 23min 20sec
10. Eric Abel ((FRA)/Christian Manet (FRA) Can-Am Maverick X3
59hrs 24min 57sec
