The Dacia Sandriders is ‘still in the game’ for a debut Dakar Rally podium with two days of the 2025 FIA World Rally-Championship season opener remaining.
Following the high of its maiden Dakar Rally stage win on Tuesday, The Dacia Sandriders reached Shubaytah in eastern Saudi Arabia this afternoon (Wednesday) reflecting on what might have been after a navigational issue caused a significant time loss for Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Édouard Boulanger on Stage 10, which was compounded when two key rivals were also delayed.
Nevertheless, five-time Dakar Rally winner Al-Attiyah, insists a podium finish is not out of reach, adding that The Dacia Sandriders is ‘still in the game’ to complete the gruelling event inside the top three.
Meanwhile, Cristina Gutiérrez and Pablo Moreno continued to impress in the second entry from The Dacia Sandriders, by finishing Stage as the sixth-best Ultimate class contenders.
The ace pairing of Al-Attiyah from Qatar and Frenchman Boulanger set off on the 520-kilometre liaison section through the sandy expanse of Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter at 04h35 local time to reach the start of the 120-kilometre 10th stage.
Facing the daunting prospect of opening the road following their win on Stage 9, their task increased further aboard the #200 sustainably-fuelled Dacia Sandrider after 10 kilometres of competitive action, as Boulanger explained. « Today was not tougher than the other days, it was tough because I did a real mistake at kilometre 10, » Boulanger said. « There were two boxes identical and I just jumped one line, going the wrong way for more than three kilometres. It was my mistake. »
The setback after some epic performances across demanding terrain since the Dakar Rally got under way on January 3 leaves Al-Attiyah/Boulanger 3m35s from the final place on the provisional podium after they had been 31s adrift following their stage-winning heroics on Tuesday.
Making the most of her lower starting position of eighth and her increased confidence behind the wheel of the #212 sustainably-fuelled Dacia Sandrider, Cristina Gutiérrez charged to the sixth fastest time in the Ultimate category alongside navigator Pablo Moreno. The fine performance emulated her effort on Stage 7, when she also went sixth quickest.
The Spaniards completed the 120-kilometre stage, rated by the organisers ‘as tricky as it is short’ in 2h12m19s, which compared favourably to the 2h28m03s it took the delayed Al-Attiyah and Boulanger to make it through.
KEY QUOTES
Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar), driver, The Dacia Sandriders : « It was a good stage, a normal stage and I like to drive in this type of terrain but from the beginning we make a big mistake, a wrong gap and we go back and lose a lot of time, so we just decide to finish the stage. What has happened has happened and we don’t take any risk. We are still in the game and we try to do our best, the 280 kilometres tomorrow will be really tough but I hope to have a good road position. »
Cristina Gutierrez (Sapin), driver, The Dacia Sandriders : « We enjoy a lot from the beginning. We were super-competitive and we feel good in the car. We enjoy a lot with Pablo and we will see what happens at the finish but I think the best result is to enjoy and this is what we do. »
DAKAR RALLY PROVISIONAL STAGE 10 RESULTS : Haradh-Shubaytah
Stage distance: 119km / Liaison distance: 519km / Total distance: 638 km
6th: Cristina Gutiérrez (ESP)/Pablo Moreno (ESP), +5m45s
30th: Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Édouard Boulanger (FRA), +21m29s
DAKAR RALLY PROVISIONAL OVERALL RESULTS AFTER STAGE 10
4th: Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Édouard Boulanger (FRA), +30m21s
41st: Cristina Gutiérrez (ESP)/Pablo Moreno (ESP), +37h47m57s
DAKAR RALLY: THE BIG NUMBER
120: The Prologue aside, Stage 10 from Haradh-Shubaytah was the shortest of the 2025 Dakar Rally.
THE DAY AHEAD: STAGE 11, SHUBAYTAH-SHUBAYTAH, JANUARY 16
The Empty Quarter challenge reaches its conclusion on the eve of the Dakar Rally finish with the first of two Shubaytah loop stages. This is varied terrain, with sand dunes and salt flats aplenty to test both riders and crews to the limit.
Stage distance: 280km / Liaison distance: 226km / Total distance: 506km
Linda Hirvonen,