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...
Kickdown extends the lead – Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk remain in front at the “Dakar”
Further contributions
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...
Shorter, but crisp: Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk remain in the leading group at the Dakar Rally
Fifth day of the rally, third stage: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk lose time in the Dakar Rally due to tricky navigation and stony surfaces Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk remain within striking distance of the overall leaders in fourth place, gap widens to 11:45 minutes...
Two in a hurry – Queen’s stage of the “Dakar” clearly goes to Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk
Stage victory on Epiphany: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk win 48-hour stage of the Dakar Rally Saudi Arabian-Brandenburg duo take second place in the overall standings Extreme driving and navigational challenges on 967-kilometer special stage Bisha, Saudi Arabia...
Spiritual “Dakar” lead for Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk after part one of the 48-hour stage
Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk deliver a strong performance from 19th on the queen stage of the first "Dakar" week Saudi-Arabian-Brandenburg duo complete the first 618 of 967 test kilometers on two-part endurance test Second part of the 48-hour stage follows Monday on Epiphany...
First day, but a used one – Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk lose time before extreme stage at the “Dakar”
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...
Dakar Rally (20+25)² – Prologue of the mathematicians, Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk in 18th position
Solid start to the Dakar Rally: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk finished the first showdown of the desert classic in 18th position.
- Predominantly fast tracks characterize the fourth, somewhat easier “Dakar” day on the way from Al-Salmiyah to Hofuf
- Despite a “pioneering task” in the second half of the stage: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk extend their lead over their closest rivals to over four minutes – second place on the day
- Only around a third of the Dakar Rally distance completed, key stages still to come
Hofuf, Saudi Arabia (January 9, 2024) – With their hearts in their hands and a brick on the gas pedal: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk extended their lead in the Dakar Rally on day four. Although the Saudi-Arabian-Brandenburg duo had to open the route from Al Salmiyah to Hofuf about halfway through the day’s stage – often a disadvantage in marathon rallying – their lead over their closest pursuers Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (ESP/ESP, Audi) grew by 3.50 to 4.19 minutes. After a good third of the total distance and 1,639 kilometers of special stages completed, this corresponds to 7,489 meters. Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk were the third car on the track and quickly caught up with their rivals who had started earlier, taking the lead as “pioneers” and securing second place in the daily standings. The day’s victory went to Sébastien Loeb/Fabian Lurquin (FRA/BEL, Prodrive).
After three challenging days at the Dakar Rally, the organizer A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation) made things a little easier for the participants on the stage from Al Salmiyah to Hofuf. The fourth day was characterized by fast tracks, only occasionally interrupted by slower sections and sections with tricky navigation. Sections on sand and sandy tracks were also on the program, as well as a total of seven percent of the distance on level 1 dunes with firm sand.
QUOTES
“The Hilux ran perfectly today after the short service yesterday. A really fast stage, really nice to drive. We’re pleased that we’ve extended our lead slightly – but the key stages still lie ahead of us.”
YAZEED AL-RAJHI
“All in all, a fast stage, but tricky to navigate in many places. Good dunes towards the end with lots and lots of fans – we’re happy with the result!”
TIMO GOTTSCHALK
AND THEN THERE WAS …
… a crisp service. In contrast to the usual “Dakar” days, the Overdrive team only had two hours on the evening before the fourth stage to carry out repairs to the Toyota Hilux of Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk. After the limited time per car had expired, the service crew and participants parted ways. While Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk spent a somewhat restful night in a tent in Al Salmiyah, the mechanics headed straight to Hofuf, where another regular service is due today.