Without a doubt, this is the image of Dakar 2024. The one remembered for years and years. One of those that creates fans and spreads the values that sport should teach all over the world, especially to the little ones. Two of the best drivers in the history of the rally world championship or motor racing in general, two rivals for the Dakar 2024 title, but above all, two people who respect each other. Sébastien Loeb, 9-time World Rally Champion, left an image for history on stage 11 of the Dakar 2024.
The French driver started the special 13 minutes behind the Spaniard to try to cut Carlos’ time in a decisive stage 11 before the short final special this Friday. This Thursday, anything can happen on a terrain full of rocks where holes can decide the race, as well as any mechanical breakdown. And in the first changeLoeb was left out of the race due to a suspension failure on his Prodrive Hunter.
Loeb stopped at kilometer 132 of the total 420 of the penultimate stage of the Dakar and bid farewell to any chance of winning. A few minutes later, in the area where he was waiting for another Prodrive driver to help him fix his car (he finally lost 1 hour and 16 minutes), Carlos Sainz passed by. The Spaniard saw Loeb standing and knew at that moment that he had no rival for the victory.
At that moment, Loeb would have only been able to get back into the fight if Carlos had also suffered a setback, but far from thinking about it, the Alsatian showed his sportsmanship and signaled Carlos Sainz to slow down.
He warned Sainz how dangerous the rocks were
Loeb gave him a thumbs up first, to reassure him that everything was fine. And then, with both hands he made a calm gesture to warn Sainz how dangerous those rocks were and that he had to be careful to overcome them and go to his Dakar victory.
Loeb was later able to resume driving after the car was repaired after 1 hour and 16 minutes of stoppage. A problem for Carlos may have given him a chance to win again. But Loeb doesn’t think about it anymore. He took his hat off to the man who wants to be the new Dakarian king tomorrow.
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.
