Sébastien Loeb (BRX) returned to success on the Dakar on Monday, which had been running away from it since 2019. Accompanied by his Belgian co-driver Fabian Lurquin, the nine-time WRC world champion indeed won the 2nd stage, 338 km between Ha’il and Al Artawiyah, 3’28 ahead of Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota). The Qatari, who led the way, remains the leader of the general classification, but Loeb is getting closer, he is only 9’18 behind.
This Dakar victory is the 15th for the Alsatian (the record belongs to Ari Vatanen with 50 successes), who thus equals his compatriots Jean-Louis Schlesser and Bruno Saby, and the first for Prodrive, the team that Loeb has joined. last year with the aim of finally winning the most famous rally-raids. On Monday, the Frenchman headed straight and quickly towards the finish, taking the lead at all intermediaries (49 “ahead after 119 km, 1’46 after 244 km and 3’28 at the finish).
Behind the duo Loeb – Al-Attiyah, things are better for Team Audi Sport after the catastrophic first stage on Sunday: Carlos Sainz finished 3rd at 5’52 and Stéphane Peterhansel 4th at 7’56. In the general classification, the third place is nevertheless occupied by the Argentinian Lucio Alvarez (Toyota), 40’53 from Al-Attiyah.