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Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk runners-up for the second time in a row

11. October 2024

Further contributions

  • Saudi Arabian-Brandenburg duo celebrate another second place in the FIA World Cross Country Rally Championship (W2RC)
  • Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk finish mixed season finale at the Morocco Rally in fourth place overall
  • WRC title and victory at the Morocco Rally go to Nasser Al-Attiyah and Edouard Boulanger
Mengoub, Morocco (October 11, 2024) – A mixed finale to a mixed season, with a positive result: for Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk, the big motorsport miracle at the Morocco Rally failed to materialize. Nevertheless, the Saudi-Arabian-Brandenburg duo finished the final round of the FIA Cross Country Rally World Championship (W2RC) in fourth place and thus celebrated the runner-up title in the drivers’ and co-drivers’ standings for the second time in a row. Victory and the WRC title also went to Nasser Al-Attiyah and his co-driver Edouard Boulanger (QAT/FRA, Prodrive/Dacia) in 2024, and in both cases the opposing duo proved to be the more consistent over the course of the season. Nevertheless, although Al-Rajhi and Gottschalk can look back on a mixed and turbulent season with ups and downs, they are also positive about the future. The Dakar Rally – the ultimate of all challenges, undisputed highlight and prestigious start to the W2RC season – was led by the new and old runners-up for a long time before an unfortunate accident forced them to retire. The Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina was impressively won by Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk later in the season in a direct duel with the eventual world champions. Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk want to get back into the race for the “Dakar” victory as early as next January.
They also proved that they have the necessary speed and material at the Morocco Rally, where they finished in second and first place in a top-class field on the five stages. Four different stage winners on the five stages – from three different manufacturers – ensured excitement at the finale. The downside: In addition to numerous punctures, difficult navigation caused Al-Rajhi/Gottschalk to lose time here and there – and thus only fourth place in the overall standings. In order to celebrate the World Championship title in the final meters, it would have taken not only a full points haul but also bad luck with the direct competition.
For Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk, a few more starts at Bajas, mainly on the Arabian Peninsula, are on the program before the “Big Mama” with the Dakar Rally in January. The next mission is planned for the Baja Qassim from October 23 to 26.

QUOTES

“All in all, it was a thrilling and good season for us. We were always able to set the pace and fight for victory – that makes us feel positive about the future. At the Dakar Rally we’re hoping to fight for victory again and start the coming W2RC season on a better footing with a good result. To be runner-up again against strong competition is a top result!”
YAZEED AL-RAJHI
“The Morocco Rally was a bit like the season so far. We were able to fight at the front here too, but we lacked the necessary luck of the brave. All in all, we can be proud of our performance – and if the necessary luck plays along, everything is open to us. Second place in the World Championship is a great result for now. And we have contributed to Toyota winning the title in the manufacturers’ world championship!”
TIMO GOTTSCHALK

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