Thursday’s 420km test between Al-’Ula and Yanbu represented Sebastien Loeb’s final opportunity to close the gap on Audi’s Carlos Sainz Sr in the overall standings at the 2024 Dakar. The subsequent Friday stage was deemed too short to significantly impact the standings.
Facing a 13-minute deficit in one of the most challenging stages, Loeb’s aspirations for a maiden Dakar victory were dashed when he collided with a sizable rock after leaping off a crest. This impact damaged the front-right A-arm on his Hunter.
Calling for assistance from the Prodrive truck, which was not conveniently positioned at the special’s start, Loeb’s fortunes changed when YunXiang China driver Zi Yungang arrived on the scene with the necessary spare parts for his customer Hunter. Despite multiple punctures, Loeb managed to limp his damaged car to the finish line, slipping to third place behind Guillaume de Mevius in the Overdrive Toyota.
The absence of Nasser Al-Attiyah, who withdrew on Stage 9 due to his own issues, left Loeb at a disadvantage. Al-Attiyah’s support could have potentially enabled Loeb to repair his car on time. However, Loeb found himself navigating the challenging stage alone while Sainz and Audi teammates Ekstrom and Peterhansel collaborated to ensure Sainz’s safe progression.
Expressing his acknowledgment of the challenging circumstances, Loeb commented, “We are happy with what we did. For sure, it didn’t work like we wanted. In the end, we didn’t have any chance against Team Audi. They were driving together. They had two cars helping Carlos.”
When asked about Al-Attiyah’s withdrawal, Loeb stated, “Nasser is doing what he wants at the end. So it’s not a decision we made to let him go. But for sure, today, we had no chance against the Audi.”
Loeb’s challenges persisted, with three additional punctures occurring after his car’s repair at the 132km mark. Despite limited spare parts, Loeb persevered, crawling to the finish line on “three completely destroyed tyres.”
Reflecting on the numerous setbacks, Loeb admitted to considering giving up before Yungang, another Prodrive driver, came to his rescue, allowing him to continue the pursuit of a podium finish.
In summary, Loeb faced a series of obstacles during the 2024 Dakar, from damaging his car on a treacherous stage to contending with multiple punctures. Despite these challenges, he managed to navigate the difficulties with the help of fellow drivers, emphasizing the demanding nature of the competition.
