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Dakar Rally (20+25)² – Prologue of the mathematicians, Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk in 18th position

3. January 2025

Further contributions

“Dakar”, fast forward – Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk take overall lead

From +5:41 to -7:09 minutes: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk take the lead in the Dakar Rally Third place on the day: courage and willpower are rewarded on the challenging stage to Haradh Particularly fast special stage over 357 kilometers with an extra challenge...

  • Slide rule instead of heavy foot: Dakar Rally prologue characterized by tactics
  • 29 kilometers against the clock – tough track and stony ground
  • Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk get the 2025 Dakar Rally off to a solid start

Rheinsberg, Germany (January 3, 2025) – Solid start to the Dakar Rally: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk finished the first showdown of the desert classic in 18th position. In the prologue, which does not count towards the overall standings of the “Dakar”, the Saudi-Arab-Brandenburg duo chose a safe, brisk pace, while others took a much higher risk. This placed them in midfield in a field of strong teams. The first ten of the prologue are allowed to choose their starting position for the first “real” rally day, at the same time the opening stage does not yet count towards the overall Dakar Rally standings. For the tough, two-part second stage over two days, many stones and thus the risk of tire damage are expected at the beginning and end – in order not to open this route and thus have a disadvantage, appropriate tactics are required in the prologue and on the first stage – without losing too much time. The Dakar Rally therefore starts with the slide rule rather than the heavy foot.

The prologue itself challenged the participants in a variety of ways, including tough slopes and rocky sections. A total of 29 kilometers against the clock were on the agenda. The real start of the Dakar Rally 2025 will then take place on Saturday, when 412 kilometers of stages await on a loop around Bisha.

 

QUOTES

“We started the Dakar Rally prologue quickly and got through without any mistakes. The pace we set wasn’t good enough for the top ten, we now have to see how the starting position pays off tomorrow. In any case, I’m pleased that the ‘Dakar’ has finally started and that the first real stage is coming up tomorrow.”
YAZEED AL-RAJHI
“The prologue at the Dakar Rally is always characterized by tactics. We approached it quite quickly and stuck strictly to the road book. I think Yazeed drove well and the navigation was also right. I’m looking forward to seeing what the first real stages from tomorrow have in store.”
TIMO GOTTSCHALK

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