DAKAR: NASSER AL-ATTIYAH & SAM SUNDERLAND TAKE WINS IN STAGE 3

Toyota fastest on the third day of Dakar 2018 – Photo: Red Bull

Toyota’s Nasser Al-Attiyah won his second stage of the 2018 Dakar Rally, to take the honors in the Car Class on Day 3.

His day wasn’t without issue, however, a flat tyre just 30 kilometers into the days’ stage saw him drop 3 minutes early in the day. The Qatari still able to take the win.

“We won the stage, which was good. We needed to push, but not really crazily.” said Al-Attiyah, at the end of the day.

“It was not a big push, because the road really isn’t easy and very dangerous in places. It was a good performance and I’m quite happy to win.

“There’s still a long way and we believe our Toyota Hilux is a good car and we’ll do our best like what we did today. It’s good, except for yesterday when we opened which was very difficult for us because there were no lines, but I think we are in a good way now”.

Al-Attiyah’s stage win moved him back up the order into third behind the two Peugeot’s of Stephane Peterhansel and Cyril Despres, who were second and third fastest on the last pass through the dunes of the Ica Desert en route to San Juan de Marcona.

Former WRC driver Mikko Hirvonen was one of the big-name drivers to drop out of contention on the third day of Dakar. The Finnish driver lost an hour and a half while stopping to repair his X-raid Mini buggy halfway through the 296 kilometer stage.

Sam Sunderland moved back into the lead of the bike class – Photo: Red Bull

In the bike class, defending champion Sam Sunderland (KTM) moved back into the lead after winning the third day.

Yesterday’s leader Joan Barreda Bort (Honda) dropped nearly 28 minutes after he made a navigational error towards the end of the stage. He now sits in 14th position, 22 minutes behind the leaders.

Aussie Toby Price (KTM) was third fastest during the stage to move up to fourth in the standings.

Fellow Australian Rodney Faggotter (Yamaha) remains 21st, while Scott Britnell (KTM) moved up to 78th.

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