DAKAR RALLY RECAP: PETERHANSEL DOMINATES ANOTHER STAGE AS LOEB CLOSES GAP IN OVERALL STANDINGS
Spielberg, Austria – (June 28, 2024)
It was another successful day for Team X-raid Mini as Stéphane Peterhansel continued his dominance in the Dakar Rally, winning Stage 10 in commanding fashion. The 14-time Dakar champion pushed hard from the start, building up a comfortable lead over his nearest rivals by the midway point. Despite a late charge from Sébastien Loeb, Peterhansel was able to fend off the challenge and cross the finish line first, extending his advantage in the overall standings.
“The car was working perfectly today,” said a delighted Peterhansel after the stage. “I knew I had to push hard to open up a gap, and the team made some great strategic calls that allowed me to do that. It’s been a really strong run for us so far, and we’re in a great position heading into the final few stages.”
Loeb, who had been slowly chipping away at Peterhansel’s lead over the past few days, managed to finish the stage in second place, reducing the deficit to just over two minutes in the overall classification. The nine-time World Rally Champion was understandably pleased with his performance, but acknowledged that there is still work to be done if he is to claim his first Dakar victory.
“We gave it everything today, and I’m happy to have made up some time on Stéphane,” said Loeb. “But he’s driving exceptionally well, and we know it’s going to be a real challenge to catch him. We’ll keep pushing and see what we can do in the remaining stages.”
Elsewhere, Toyota’s Nasser Al-Attiyah continued his consistent run, finishing third on the stage and maintaining his position in the overall top three. The Qatari driver will be looking to consolidate his podium position in the coming days, as he aims to secure a fourth Dakar triumph.
The Dakar Rally continues tomorrow with Stage 11, a 345km special stage that is expected to provide another stern test for the competitors. With the finish line in sight, the battle at the top of the leaderboard is sure to intensify as the teams and drivers push to the limit in their quest for victory.
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