Local hero Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk win the opening round of the FIA Marathon Baja World Cup in commanding style Just two weeks after winning the Dakar Rally, the Saudi Arabian-Brandenburg duo are taking the momentum with them to the Saudi Baja Ha'il...
Dakar Rally (20+25)² – Prologue of the mathematicians, Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk in 18th position
Further contributions
Stop the press! Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk win the 2025 Dakar Rally
After 4,906 test kilometers and 14 days: Home victory for Yazeed Al-Rajhi in Saudi Arabia Timo Gottschalk celebrates second "Dakar" triumph after 2011 Toughest "Dakar" ever pushes drivers, co-drivers and equipment to their limits Shubaytah, Saudi Arabia (January 17,...
Down to the wire – Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk go into the final day of the “Dakar” as leaders
The final sprint decides: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk take a lead of 6:11 minutes into the final 61 kilometers of the Dakar Rally Dune duel: Stages in the Empty Quarter make for a worthy finale in the Lategan/Cummings versus Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk fight 276...
Full throttle in the Empty Quarter: duel for the “Dakar” victory goes down to the wire
Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk lose their narrow "Dakar" lead on the first stage in the Rub al-Chali Before the decisive final two stages: Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk 2:27 minutes behind Henk Lategan/Brett Cummings Good starting position for both duos on the long desert...
“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...
Stable in the pursuit: Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk consolidate “Dakar” rank two
Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk use the eighth stage of the Dakar Rally to gain a cushion Late starters favored: gap in the overall standings grows to 5:41 minutes Long, demanding stage towards the capital: Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk do pioneering work in the final stage...
Jackpot at the Grande Casino – Al-Rajhi and Gottschalk within shouting distance of the “Dakar” lead
Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk finish seventh on the day to reduce the gap to the leaders to 21 seconds Incorrect directions in the road book mislead all participants - sector time canceled Navigationally and technically tricky stage around Dawadimi through...
Back in action – good start to the second “Dakar” week for Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk
Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk reduce the gap in the overall standings to 7:16 minutes with fifth place on the day Ideal prerequisites for the journey towards the Empty Quarter: good starting position for stage seven Route from Ha'il to Dawadimi with two...
Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk go into the second “Dakar” week in second place overall
Clever management after the previous day's stage win: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk fifth on the last stage before the rest day Second position in the overall standings secured: Saudi Arabian-Brandenburg duo cushions the disadvantage of the route opening Stage...
Yazeed and the speed: Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk new “Dakar” runners-up with stage win
Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk take advantage of the late start and reduce the gap at the Dakar Rally to around seven minutes Stage from Al-Henakiyah to al-'Ula forms the first part of a so-called marathon stage Be careful, but at speed: stony ground requires...
- 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