Loeb Continues Winning Streak With Second Consecutive Dakar Stage Triumph for BRX

Sébastien Loeb and co-driver Fabian Lurquin emerged victorious on the 358-kilometer ninth stage of the 2023 Dakar Rally, traveling from Riyadh to Haradh.

Driving their BRX Prodrive Hunter, Loeb’s impressive performance saw him secure the stage win despite a road section time penalty of 2 minutes and 10 seconds. He finished just 57 seconds ahead of Vaidotas Zala, who claimed the second spot.

The stage proved to be a navigational challenge as competitors traversed waterlogged wadis and treacherous dunes, but Loeb managed to navigate these obstacles with aplomb.

Although he briefly lost the lead to Zala during the stage, Loeb’s strategic driving and quick recovery allowed him to take the win, marking his third stage victory of this year’s Dakar Rally.

This win pushed Loeb into third place in the overall standings, reflecting a resurgence in his campaign. However, despite his stage triumph, Loeb remains significantly behind the leader, Nasser Al Attiyah, who finished eighth on the stage but maintains a substantial overall lead of 1 hour, 21 minutes, and 57 seconds over second-place Lucas Moraes from Brazil.

The day’s events were not without drama; Henk Lategan, who was in second place overall, experienced mechanical issues with his Toyota that set him back by around 40 minutes.

Additionally, Carlos Sainz, who had been leading the rally, rolled his Audi during the stage and was briefly airlifted for a medical check before rejoining the race with his co-driver Lucas Cruz.

The Prodrive Hunter team continued to demonstrate their capabilities, with Guerlain Chicherit and Alex Winocq achieving the third-fastest time of the stage. This stage marked the fifth consecutive occasion that the Prodrive Hunters, all utilizing sustainable fuel, finished within the top ten.

With this stage win, Loeb’s pursuit of the World Rally-Raid Championship points stands out as he seeks to close the gap on Al Attiyah. Looking ahead, the rally resumes after a rest day with a 333-kilometer stage from Riyadh to Al Duwadimi, where Loeb aims to further challenge for victories and accumulate points towards the championship.