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...
Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk celebrate another Saudi Arabian Championship title
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
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...
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...
- Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk secure the title in Saudi Arabia with their third win of the season
- Sovereign and unthreatened success at the Qassim Rally
- Test under competitive conditions: Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk test suspension set-up for the Dakar Rally
Buraydah, Saudi Arabia (October 26, 2024) – All good things come in threes: Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk killed three birds with one stone at the Qassim Rally in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabian-Brandenburg duo won the third round of the Saudi Arabian Rally Championship and secured the title at the same time. As a side effect, they also used this opportunity to successfully test a new chassis set-up with a view to the Dakar Rally, which will also pass through Saudi Arabia in January. The Qassim Rally also fell into the “short and sweet” category. With dune and gravel passages, it offered a varied route. And the weather also had a surprise in store: on the final Saturday of the rally, rain provided an additional challenge.
The victory of Yazeed Al-Rajhi/Timo Gottschalk remained unchallenged right from the start. They won the prologue and both special stages. In the overall standings, they relegated Dania Akeel/Stéphane Duple (KSA/FRA, Toyota) and Miroslav Zapletal/Marek Sykora (CZE/SVK, Ford) to second and third place.
The final round of the Saudi Arabian Championship, the Jeddah Rally (18-21 December), is scheduled for Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk in a few weeks’ time.
QUOTES
“A good rally for us: third round and third victory. We are delighted to be crowned Saudi Arabian champions early on. We also took the opportunity to test a few things on the chassis.”YAZEED AL-RAJHI
“A beautiful rally! The first day was characterized by sand, the second was on fast tracks. There was also an unusual amount of rain on the final day – something we’re not really used to here. It was a good opportunity to stay in the rhythm of the competition and to test a few things. What’s more, we clinched the title again with this victory. What more could you want?”TIMO GOTTSCHALK