– A 394km timed special stage between Al Dawadimi and Wadi Ad-Dawasir was the scene of the latest triumph for Seth Quintero (USA). The Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team driver picked up his eighth stage win in the T3 category as he chases down a long standing Dakar Rally record.
– « Today went great. We really feel no pressure, so we’re just out there having a good time and today went well for us. We knew that there was going to be a lot of sand and a lot of dunes and that’s where I feel the most comfortable, in the dunes. » – Seth Quintero
– Ever since suffering significant time losses on Stage 2, 19-year-old Quintero and co-driver Dennis Zenz (GER) have readjusted their targets for this rally. When fighting for the overall win was no longer an option, the duo decided to go for as many stage wins as they could in their OT3.
– « We’re really having a good time and hoping to break that record. We’re one step closer. That’s number eight, I said yesterday it’s mind-blowing that we can win eight out of nine Dakar stages and still not be in the match for the overall. » – Seth Quintero
– The record for stage wins at a single Dakar is held by Pierre Lartigue (FRA) who won 10 stages at the 1994 edition, which was 17 stages long. Quintero now has eight stage wins with four stages remaining at this Dakar. In addition to this, Quintero already has a stage win percent at this Dakar of 66%, compared with Lartigue’s 58% win ratio in 1994.
– Quintero’s team-mate Cristina Gutiérrez (ESP) started Stage 8 third overall in the Dakar’s T3 category. Unfortunately the Spaniard and co-driver François Calazet (FRA) had to deal with a capricious injector from the start of the stage and spent the day trying to limit the damage and time loss. Considering the disadvantage of running on two cylinders across Category III dunes like today, the crew did a fantastic job. The reasons and causes for the engine trouble are still under investigation by the team.
– Gutiérrez had slipped back to sixth overall by the time she brought her OT3 to the Wadi Ad-Dawasir bivouac. However, last year’s winner of the T3 category of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies is made of strong stuff. Gutiérrez will be out to reclaim her podium spot on the remaining four stages in Saudi Arabia.
The 2022 Dakar Rally will finish in Jeddah on January 14.
LIGHTWEIGHT PROTOTYPE (T3) STAGE 8 RANKINGS
1. S. Quintero (USA)/D. Zenz (GER) – OT3, 4:17:14
2. S. Eriksson (SWE)/W. Rosegaar (NLD) – Can-Am, +11:57
3. P. Lebedev (RUS)/K. Shubin (RAF) – Can-Am, +12:32…