Stephane Peterhansel commemorated another phase win.
Dakar Rally veteran Stephane Peterhansel notched up a record-equalling 50th phase win on Sunday as Spanish rider Carles Falcon was reported in a “major condition” after crashing in Saudi Arabia.
Falcon, who made his Dakar launching in 2022, was nearing the 2nd phase goal when he suffered a bad mishap.
“Immediately informed by another racer who was following him, the organisation dispatched a medical helicopter which looked after the hurt motorcyclist in a condition thought about severe. He was airlifted to Al-Duwadimi medical facility,” race organiser ASO stated.
Falcon, riding for the Twintrail Racing Team, was 76th after Saturday’s opening phase.
Later On Sunday, Falcon’s group stated he had actually suffered fractured vertebrae and remained in a “major condition.” He will go through surgical treatment in a Riyadh Hospital.
Honda’s Ignacio Cornejo took the win with a lead of 5min 59sec ahead of Luciano Benavides while Botswana’s Ross Branch stays in the general lead.
In the leading vehicle department, Peterhansel left his competitors routing in the dust in a treacherous 463km path through the winding dunes of the Saudi desert.
Just nine-time rally world champ Sebastien Loeb got anywhere near his French compatriot at 29sec as American novice Seth Quintero got home 3rd at 3min 11sec.
The 58-year-old Peterhansel scooped his half century of Dakar phase wins to equivalent Ari Vatanen’s tally.
“I stopped counting a very long time back, however it’s excellent to understand I can still beat him,” Peterhansel, who has actually won motorsport’s most difficult endurance test a record 14 times making him the label ‘Mister Dakar’, stated.
The outcome left Peterhansel’s Audi colleague Carlos Sainz in the general lead at 8hr 49min 38sec with Saudi Arabian Yazeed Al Rajhi 1min 51sec back in 2nd after filling 5th on Sunday. Peterhansel is ninth.
“All in all, I’m delighted with the automobile. We’ll see where it goes from here, this was simply the 2nd phase,” stated Sainz.
Sainz is contending in his 17th Dakar with wins in 2020, 2018 and 2010.
Loeb, runner-up to Nasser Al-Attiyah in the previous 2 editions, sits 3rd at 4min 17sec.
Protecting champ Al-Attiyah was 4th on the day at 6min 28 driving for his brand-new ProDrive group.
The Qatari was impeded by 2 leaks on Saturday’s opening phase; on Sunday, it was a damaged rear suspension arm on his cars and truck that slowed him down.
“We picked up more than 10 minutes to fix. I believe it’s a powerlessness of this cars and truck due to the fact that ‘Seb’ (Loeb) broke the exact same arm the other day,” stated Al-Attiyah, gunning for his 6th win general in case.
“We’ll attempt to consult with the group to repair the issues. I delight in the automobile a lot, even with all the issues we had today and the other day, we’re still in the video game,” he included.
Monday’s 438km run from Al-Duwamsimi to Al-Salamiya includes altering surface from dunes to jagged rocky areas.