Kilometer 13 on the final day brings the end: Technical problem costs valuable points and the lead in the FIA Cross Country Rally World Championship (W2RC) Almost "zero" instead of fourth place in the unloved Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Looking ahead: three more World...
First the bolt, then bold properly: Al-Rajhi and Gottschalk fight for World Cup points at Baja Aragón
Further contributions
Into the top ten – Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk with a solid performance during the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
Eighth place with the prospect of a top five finish: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk cleverly manage the unpopular Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge ahead of the final two stages Focus on points instead of risk: "Dakar" winner with solid pace Lots of dunes with a tricky...
Surfin’ UAE – Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk start the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge as world championship leaders
With a "Dakar" recipe for the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge: calculated risk at the second round of the FIA World Cross-Country Rally Championship (W2RC) "Dakar" winners Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk meet concentrated W2RC competition Terrain with the known and the unknown: dunes,...
Thumbs up, again: “Dakar” winners Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk start the FIA Baja World Cup with victory
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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...
- Despite setback: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk score points in the FIA Marathon Baja World Cup in Spain
- Baja Aragón the expected rough, tight and tough challenge over 512.78 kilometers
- Broken suspension bolt prevents podium result
Teruel, Spain (July 28, 2024) – Fighting heart required: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk scored valuable points in the FIA Marathon Baja World Cup at the Baja España Aragón. Last year’s runners-up had to fight their way back on the second day after a setback shortly before the finish of the first competition day. A sheared bolt on the front right wishbone was followed by energetic bolting on Sunday. The Saudi-Arabian-Brandenburg Toyota duo once again put everything into the final day and took one and a half minutes off the eventual winners Guillaume de Mevius/Matthieu Baumel (BEL/FRA, Toyota) as stage winners despite a puncture – and thus added five extra points to the points for the class result.
The Baja España Aragón is very similar to a round of the World Rally Championship, albeit much rougher and extremely narrow in places. Not only the material is subjected to an extremely merciless test, but also the drivers and co-drivers. Many turn-offs and navigation announcements coming in quick succession, sometimes with only 100 meters between them, demand maximum concentration.
QUOTES
“We got off to a good start at the Baja Aragón. On the first stage we got caught in the dust of someone in front and had to back off a bit. The second stage on Saturday also went promisingly until the bolt on the suspension sheared off. After this setback, we gave it our all again on Sunday and won the stage. Overall, we are satisfied with our performance.”
YAZEED AL-RAJHI
“The Baja España Aragón is known for being particularly rough, narrow and challenging. The technical, World Rally Championship-like sections are also a real challenge for riders and co-drivers. For us co-drivers, there is always a lot to negotiate – sometimes there are only 100 meters between individual points. It’s a shame that we were robbed of a podium result on Saturday with the broken bolt on the suspension, but I think we made the best of it.”
TIMO GOTTSCHALK