Yazeed al-Rajhi records historic Dakar Rally triumph

SHUBAYTAH: Yazeed al-Rajhi made history on Friday becoming the first driver from host nation Saudi Arabia to win the Dakar Rally.

The Overdrive pilot held onto his overnight lead to beat South Africa´s Henk Lategan in a Toyota by 3min 57sec with Mattias Ekstrom of Sweden third in his Ford, 20min 21sec adrift. Saudi Arabia have hosted the Dakar Rally since 2020, when it moved from South America.

There was also a first win in the world´s most famous endurance rally for Australia´s KTM rider Daniel Sanders in the motorbike category. Sanders, 30, dominated from the moment he won the prologue and finished a comfortable 8min 50sec faster than Spanish runner-up Tosha Schareina on his Honda.

Sanders is the second Australian to prevail in the motorbike category, Toby Price emerging victorious in 2016 and 2019. “It was a tough race,” said Sanders. “The last three days couldn´t come quick enough. It was really, really exciting to see the finish line when we came over one dune. “You see the whole bivouac, I just smiled and had chills go through my whole body. Super special, won´t forget that moment.”