Carlos Sainz starts in the ointment and Nasser Al-Attiyah achieves the first victory for Dacia

The real fire has begun. Many things have changed since the past Dakarwith the good news of the arrival of Ford and Dacia. But in the beginning, the main ‘roosters’ were at the top.

After a good prologue stage of Carlos Sainzthe Spaniard confirmed the good first feelings at the premiere of his Ford on stage 1 of Morocco Rallywhere the Madrid native, current Dakar champion, made his career debut in the Ford Raptor T1+.

Since it is a completely new car, the Madrid native has the main goal of understanding how competitive his car will be in the first year of this ambitious project (Ford debuted last year but has a previous car to reach the Dakar 2024 with a vehicle completely new and designed to fight against everything). And so far, the beginning is positive. It is in the ointment.

The Spaniard was third in this first stage which started and finished in Zagora, finishing 2’33” behind the day’s winner, Nasser Al-Attiyah, who achieved the first stage victory in the World Rally Raid FIA (W2RC) for Dacia and his 40th victory in this competition. For his part, the Saudi Yazeed Al-Rajhirival for the title, done in second position at 1’39”.

Same goal as Ford Daciato test your new Sandrider on a terrain very similar to what everyone will see in Saudi Arabia next January. And the beginning could not be better for Al-Attiyahimposes itself and shows the speed of its car from minute 1, a car that takes advantage of some of the elements of the previous BRX.

It is therefore understood that the challenge in Morocco is greater for Ford, and can also explain these initial differences while waiting for what will happen in the rest of the rally (ending on Friday) and how much can be improved by Ford on what it learned in Morocco facing the Dakar.

The Mini X-raid from Chicheritwith another Ford, that of Mattias Ekström, in 5th position at 6’09” after punctures and the Swede’s problem with the hydraulic jack in the prologue, which caused him to start far away in the first stage. Just missing above Sebastien Loebwho was 12th in 12’47” with the same Dacia in which Al-Attiyah won.

The Frenchman complicated his life in the prologue by entering a ditch and this Monday, starting from the back, it seemed he could challenge his teammate for victory, but after passing 1’21” at kilometer 42, lost he ran out of steam in the dunes, giving up 4′ at kilometer 113, and ended up losing at least 12’57” to the finish line.

Cristina Gutiérrez, Top-10

Cristina Gutierrezwho in Dakar 2025 will be the second woman in the history of the Dakar to compete in a top-class official car, making her debut at the wheel of her new Dacia Sandrider with great speed, beating her teammate Sébastien Loeb, which achieved a good Top-10 overall in which many light prototypes entered. The Spaniard finished in 11’15”, 8th highest vehicle class. From there he must continue his development to reach the Dakar with high expectations of achieving a great result.

For his part, Isidre Esteve was 36th in 29’26” with his Repsol Rally Team Toyota Hilux T1+. 11th is Catalan co-pilot Armand Monleón, to the right of Brazilian Lucas Moraeswhile also the Catalan co-pilot Oliveras He is the 13th leading Argentine Yacopini.