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...
First day, but a used one โ Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk lose time before extreme stage at the “Dakar”
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...
- 413-kilometer loop around Bisha with challenges for drivers and co-drivers is the true prelude to the 2025 Dakar Rally
- Pace stage before the big hammer: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk skillfully dose the “Dakar” urge, but also lose time with numerous technical problems
- Nevertheless, 21st place on the day and 21st overall for the runners-up mean a good starting position for the 48-hour stage on Sunday and Monday
Bisha, Saudi Arabia (January 4, 2025) – Once through the “Dakar” problem list: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk maintained a good starting position on the first day of the Dakar Rally despite numerous niggles. First the reverse gear failed due to gearbox problems, then the main GPS. While switching to the reserve system, Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk caught a Rio dead end in a navigationally blind flight and had to free themselves from the situation with a lot of driving skill. However, with 21st place on the day and overall, the starting position remains good, especially with a view to the upcoming task. Because the toughest rally in the world has a special marathon within a marathon on the program for the next two days: the 48-hour stage, including an overnight stay in the desert. Extremely rocky terrain is expected for the start on Sunday and the end on Monday, which means a high risk of tire damage. Those who start the route early are at a clear disadvantage as “road sweepers”. This role will then fall to Guerlain Chicherit/Alex Winocq (FRA/FRA, Mini), who won the first leg of the Dakar Rally and now lead the overall standings. Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk, like almost all the top teams, accepted a gap that currently stands at 10:28 minutes. Versatility was already required on the first “real” day of the Dakar Rally: The participants had to constantly adjust their speed on different surfaces, especially on stony sections. Around the halfway point of the special stage, precise navigation in a labyrinth of paths was a decisive factor. The first 150 kilometers led without exception through wadis and over fast sandy tracks, including beautiful landscapes. The following 60 kilometers or so challenged the riders with fast gravel roads before the route led into the mountains up to kilometer 240. A short, 13-kilometre neutralization on asphalt was followed by another 80 kilometers of fast, wide tracks. The finale consisted of fast trails through canyons and short off-piste sections that led to the finish directly at the bivouac in Bisha.
QUOTES
“We had imagined the first stage of the Dakar Rally would be easier. Right from the start, reverse gear and neutral failed in the gearbox, we were stuck for a long time in the dust of someone in front who didn’t want to make way despite the sentinel. We got the route wrong twice. The navigation system also failed at times … We’ll take today as a dress rehearsal where everything went wrong. Then tomorrow’s premiere with the queen stage of the first week can only be a success.”
YAZEED AL-RAJHI
“Today we had all the ‘Dakar’ problems there are – except for punctures. First gearbox problems, then we made two wrong turns in the dust of the car in front. When the main GPS failed, we took a wrong turn while switching to the reserve system – a dead end in a Rio. Without reverse gear, we lost a lot of time. Without Sentinel and without GPS, we ended up driving carefully so as not to endanger the motorcyclists we had to overtake.”
TIMO GOTTSCHALK