JEDDAH: Nasser Al-Attiyah stayed firmly on track for a record-extending sixth Dakar Rally victory in the top car category after another commanding display in the Saudi Arabian desert on Thursday.
The Qatari driver, representing the Dacia Sandriders, completed the stage with a comfortable lead of eight minutes and 40 seconds over nearest challenger Nani Roma of factory Ford.With the 13-stage endurance rally set to conclude on Saturday in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast, Al-Attiyah struck a confident yet cautious note, stressing the importance of consistency over risk as the finish line approaches.
Ford’s Mattias Ekstrom claimed victory on Thursday’s 346km stage from Bisha to Al Henakiyah, marking his third stage win of this year’s event, but it did little to dent Al-Attiyah’s overall advantage.
Last year’s runner-up Henk Lategan endured further frustration after already slipping back following two difficult days marred by mechanical issues and navigational errors. Al-Attiyah had begun the day 12 minutes clear of the South African, underlining his control of the rally as it heads into its decisive final stages.
