Dakar 2023 | Sébastien Loeb (BRX) 2nd overall after his sixth stage victory

Sébastien Loeb continues his ascent by taking a fifth consecutive stage victory on Friday, the sixth on the Dakar, and climbs to the second step of the podium. With his co-driver Fabian Lurquin at the wheel of their Prodrive Hunter, they dominated the end of the marathon stage in the Rub Al-Khali desert on the border with Oman.

1h27 behind Al-Attiyah

At the end of 376 km partly in the mountain ranges of dunes, Sébastien Loeb clocked in with a 3’19 lead over the Swede Mattias Ekstrom, the only representative in the race of the three hybrid Audis entered for this 45th edition of the emblematic rally-raid. Nasser Al-Attiyah, quadruple winner of the Dakar, continued to moderate and took third place, 3’31 behind Sébastien Loeb, according to provisional results.

With his five consecutive victories, Sébastien Loeb equals Ari Vatanen’s record set in 1989 at the wheel of his Peugeot 405 T16. In the provisional general classification, two days before the finish in Dammam on Sunday, Nasser Al-Attiyah consolidates his first place. Sébastien Loeb is 1 hour and 27 minutes behind him. The Brazilian Lucas Moraes (Toyota) for whom this is his first Dakar, lost some time on Friday after stopping, and had to go down to the third step of the podium. He is now two minutes behind Sébastien Loeb.

Price new leader in the motorcycle category

On the motorcycle side, Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) won the day’s stage on Friday, which was still very tight. The 28-year-old rider is only 49 seconds ahead of Australian Daniel Sanders (GasGas) and 1’58 ahead of another Australian, Toby Price (KTM), the new leader. According to provisional results, Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) has indeed lost 2’54, and first place in the provisional general classification.

Toby Price, crowned in 2016 and 2019, therefore took control. Starting in 3rd position, he managed to finish 3rd at the finish on Friday, boosted by the bonuses collected along the stage. He is followed at 28 seconds by Skyler Howes. Argentinian Kevin Benavides (KTM), winner in 2021, remains in ambush at 2’40. Adrien Van Beveren, the first Frenchman, is 5th in the standings, but still hopes to grab the final victory. “I can’t resign myself“explains the Honda driver, 16’14 behind the leader.