The classification of the prologue stage of the Dakar 2024 in cars and light vehicles

The Dakar raised its curtain on contention with Friday’s prologue stage, a 27-kilometer day that, unlike what happens in motorcycles, in cars does not count towards the general classification. That is, the time lost by some pilots has no effect on a general classification that will begin to be drawn at the end of stage 1. So far, the times of the prologue stage have only served to establish the starting order of stage 1. 10 best in the prologue can choose a place in the top 10, while from 11th down, the places are determined by the place achieved in this short preliminary phase.

Mattias Ekstrom went first and could have priority over the other Top-10 drivers who chose a starting position. The logical thing is for the Swede to choose to start in 10th to try to make time for the rivals in front of him by being able to follow their tracks. 2nd in the classification of the prologue stage of Dakar 2024 is the young man from Toyota Seth Quintero, Al-Attiyah’s successor at the wheel of the champion car, who in this way also got a good position to start stage 1 this Saturday .

Loeb finished third, 38 seconds back. And from there, the rest of the favorites went a little further in search of a start on another approach, making sure not to open a track. It didn’t go well for Peterhansel, who was 7th and had to start quite far ahead on stage 1, without opening the track, but he was expected to start from more or less fourth place on the grid.

For his part, it worked out perfectly for Nasser Al-Attiyah. He was 12th and, despite staying so close to 10th place that would have forced him to open the track, he avoided that setback. Lucas Moraes, with Armand Monleón as co-driver, was 15th and Nani Roma 16th, good places for both. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz, the most cautious of all the favorites, is 33rd in the classification of the prologue stage of the Dakar 2024. The Madrid native will start from far back on stage 1 with his Audi in search of making earth It didn’t turn out the way I wanted. I was hoping to get more forward and this is not a good start. It will be necessary to see if the type of stage allows him to quickly take advantage of the brands of his rivals or if leaving too far will cause him to lose some time due to dealing with slower ones car and due to dust.

DAKAR 2024 PROLOGUE STAGE CLASSIFICATION IN CARS:

1. MATTIAS EKSTRÖM 16′ 30”
2. SETH QUINTERO 23”
3. SEBASTIEN LOEB 38”
4. MARCOS BAUMGART at 38”
5. CHRISTIAN BAUMGART on 44″
6. KRZYSZTOF HOLOWCZYC at 44”
7. STÉPHANE PETERHANSEL at 45”
8. LIONEL BAUD in 47”
9. MARTIN PROKOP at 49”
10. BRIAN BARAGWANATH at 55”
11. GUERLIN CHICHERIT at 58”
12. NASSER AL-ATTIYAH at 01′ 01”
13. ERYK GOCZAL AND ORIOL MENA in 1’04 *(CATEGORY T3, CHALLENGER)

15. LUCAS MORAES and ARMAND MONLEON at 01′ 15”

16. NANI ROMA and ALEX HARO BRAVO at 01′ 22”

33. CRISTINA GUTIÉRREZ AND PABLO MORENO in 1’50” (T3)

37. ROKAS BACIUSKA AND ORIOL VIDAL in 2’01”

38. ISIDRE ESTEVE AND TXEMA VILLALOBOS in 2’07

47. CARLOS SAINZ AND LUCAS CRUZ at 2’18”

52. PAU NAVARRO at 2’32”

53. JUAN CRUZ YACOPINI AND DANIEL OLIVERAS AT 2’33”

59. LAIA SANZ AT 2’49”

CLASSIFICATION OF PROLOGUE STAGE IN CHALLENGER (T3)

1. ERYK GOCZAL AND ORIOL MENA 17′ 34”
2. MICHAL GOCZAL at 00′ 20”
3. KRIS MEEKE at 21”
4. NICOLAS CAVIGLIASSO at 39”
5. MITCHELL GUTHRIE at 41”
6. IGNACIO CASALE 41”
7. DAVID ZILLE at 00′ 42”
8. CRISTINA GUTIERREZ and PABLO MORENO in 46”
9. ROKAS BACIUSKA and ORIOL VIDAL at 00′ 57″