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) -...
Really strong to second place – Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk on the podium at the Sonora Rally
Further contributions
In a heart-stopping final: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk win Desafío Ruta 40
We pull the cap: first win of the season in the FIA Cross-Country World Rally Championship (W2RC) for Saudi Arabian-Brandenburg duo Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk keep W2RC decision open until the final at the Morocco Rally A particularly challenging route through Argentina in...
Almost-Olympic hurdles race: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk grab valuable World Cup points in Greece
Anything but ideal: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk scored valuable points for the overall standings in the FIA Baja World Cup at Baja Greece – despite a number of imponderables.
Cool, calm, collected: Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk secure podium result at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
With brains on the podium: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk secured third place in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, scoring important points in the battle for the FIA Cross-Country World Rally Championship (W2RC).
Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk kick-off Marathon Baja World Cup with victory
Dominated, made it exciting again – and won: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk got off to a strong start in the FIA Marathon Baja World Cup.
Final exit for Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk from the 2024 Dakar Rally – looking ahead
Rien ne va plus: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk must finish the 2024 Dakar Rally early and for good. After the Saudi Arabian-Brandenburg duo had led the world’s toughest desert rally for 1,119 kilometers, a rollover on the sixth stage at kilometer 1,808 put an end to their dream of victory.
Game over – Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk have to give up their dream of winning the “Dakar” while in the lead
The dream of winning the “Dakar” is over. Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk ended the tough marathon stage of the Dakar Rally early after a multiple rollover.
100% dunes, 100% Yazeed and Timo: Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk go into the tougher marathon stage as “Dakar” leaders
Part one of the dune triad: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk consolidated their lead in the overall standings of the Dakar Rally with fourth place on day five.
Kickdown extends the lead – Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk remain in front at the “Dakar”
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 the fourth day.
Blow the whistle! – or – Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk take the lead in the Dakar Rally
Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk lead the Dakar Rally after three days of competition.
- Thanks to two stage wins and second place overall: Yazeed Al-Rajhi makes a big leap in the Cross Country Rally World Championship standings: second place
- Whether it’s speed test or a cactus slalom: a brilliant driving and navigational performance on unfamiliar terrain
- The third of five World Championship rounds leads through the north of Mexico, through endless cactus fields, desert sections and over sandy tracks
San Luis Río Colorado (April 29, 2023) – Strong performance, excellent points haul: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk celebrated second place overall at the Sonora Rally and thus their second podium result in a row. As a result, Yazeed Al-Rajhi has made a huge leap in the overall standings of the FIA World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC), in which he is now 30 points behind leader Nasser Al-Attiyah in second place. Also thanks to two stage wins and two second places on the five stages of the Sonora Rally – for which 5 and 4 points are awarded respectively. The extremely strong second place in the final standings of the northern Mexican rally follows the victory in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in March.
New terrain, new character
Tricky tasks were also on the agenda at the Sonora Rally – albeit different in character to the first two rounds on the Arabian Peninsula. In addition to fast sandy tracks, regularly interrupted by slalom passages between numerous large cacti, the northwest of Mexico also offered dune passages and fesh-fesh. On ranch land, around Hermosillo, there were detours in the direction of the Gulf of Cortez, to Puerto Peñasco, to the border of the US state of Arizona and finally to San Luis Río Colorado. The El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve has had a particular impact on the landscape.
Twice one, twice two, once … disillusionment
Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk made a strong start to the Sonora Rally right at the beginning of the rally. They finished the first stage in a top position in second place behind Sébastien Loeb. On the second day, however, a broken brake pipe slowed them down, the effects of which meant a total loss of nine minutes. This was followed by stage wins on the third and the final fifth stage, as well as second place on the penultimate leg of the rally. In the end, the Saudi Arabian-Brandenburg duo were only beaten by the W2RC leaders Nasser Al-Attiyah/Matthieu Baumel (QAT/FRA), who, like Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk, were driving a Toyota Hilux. And that with a gap of just 6.22 minutes.
QUOTES
“A great result, a great rally. We are mega-satisfied with second place, because I also climbed to second in the championship. Timo, who did his usual good job, was once again a guarantee for success. We are now looking forward to the next two rounds of the world championship and are excited to see what they will bring for us.”
YAZEED AL-RAJHI
“An exciting, enjoyable and successful rally. The terrain was new territory for most of the participants, it wasn’t always easy, even more strenuous than expected. We had a lot of fun on some great stages. Of course, we also had some bad luck with the car, but we fought every day anew. We are very happy with second place.”
TIMO GOTTSCHALK