Nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb is well-positioned in second place after the 367-kilometer opening stage of the Dakar Rally. Loeb, driving his BRX Hunter with co-driver Fabian Lurquin, is just 23 seconds behind stage winner Carlos Sainz, surrounded by strong competition from Audi teammates Sainz and Mattias Ekström.
Loeb’s performance is bolstered by a solid showing from his Prodrive-run Bahrain Raid Xtreme (BRX) team. The team had three Hunters in the top seven, showcasing their competitive edge.
Guerlain Chicherit, with co-driver Alex Winocq, finished fifth, only five seconds behind Saudi’s Yazeed Al Rajhi in a Toyota. Another Prodrive Hunter, driven by Orly Terranova and Alex Haro, secured seventh place, one spot ahead of Qatar’s defending champion, Nasser Al Attiyah.
The Prodrive Hunters’ success is attributed to the team’s extensive support system in Saudi Arabia, consisting of 67 people from 14 nationalities and 27 vehicles. The Hunters run on EcoPower fuel, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 80% compared to traditional petrol, aligning with the event’s environmental goals.
Ekström led much of the stage until Loeb and Sainz increased their pace in the final 100 kilometers, overtaking him. The performance of the Prodrive Hunters aligns with their back-to-back victories in last year’s inaugural World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC).
After a historic first rally win in Morocco by Chicherit, Loeb secured a victory in the Andalucia Rally, starting the 2023 W2RC season in Saudi Arabia with the determination to improve upon his final runner-up finish last year.
The Dakar Rally continues with a challenging 430-kilometer stage from Sea Camp to Alula, where the Prodrive Hunters aim to maintain their strong performance.