The Dakar 2023 has reached ‘Empty Quarter’, the terrifying desert of the southeast of Saudi Arabia, unexplored by the local inhabitants due to its enormous extension (650,000 km2), its gigantic dunes (they can reach up to 300 meters high) and the dangers it hides. He did it in a stage of only 114 kilometers, with 90% sand, which served for the participants to start preparing for the first part of the marathon stage, stage 11 this Thursday, where the participants will face the a stage full of complications, facing soft sands of all kinds that will slow them down and drive under pressure for hours, knowing that they will have to take care of the mechanics because when they arrive at the camp they will have no help in engine of their teams. Before that big day Sebastien Loeb constantly attacking his wheel Hunter T1+ from the BRX teamtook his third consecutive special victory, the fourth in the entire Dakar 2023.
Loeb continued his particular comeback operation as he lost his chance to win the second stage, which took three holes, and also due to a rollover the following day. No one gave a damn for him, and now the Frenchman, with accidents and problems with Audis and a devastating speed, is third in stage 9 and continues to put pressure on the surprising Brazilian Lucas Moraes to take second place.
Loeb reached stage 10 with an advantage of 3’04” on the sole Audi who is still in the race, that’s great Matthias Ekstromand 5’22” over a Moraes that he was not nervous before the French attacks. Loeb is now third, just over 15 minutes behind the Brazilian in that great fight sebastien he wants to win at all costs. Getting second place is the best way to buy tickets in case you win that ‘lottery’ Nasser Al-Attiyahcomfortable rally leader, there’s a problem.
In episodes 11 and 12, the pilots will fully enter the heart of ‘Empty Quarter’ and after the problems the Qatari has suffered in previous stages with his Toyota’s suspension, there is no denying it. Al Attiyah has a lead advantage of 1’21” with respect to Moraes and 1’37” with respect to Loeb, something that will allow him to keep up with a desert with so many dangers. In addition, Nasser is the only one in the whole Dakar who has been completely in this huge desert, so his experience must be of a degree.
However, Loeb had to attack at all odds. Although winning stage 10 could put him in trouble. You will have to open the track in the first part of the marathon stage, in a desert where it is very difficult to orient yourself because there are no other references than the kilometers of sand that you can see in front of your hood. The 9-time world rally champion is not giving up. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. He will continue to try and burn all his cartridges.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
