Sainz and Brabec conquer Dakar

After 12 stages, 15 days and 7670km, Carlos Sainz Senior and Ricky Brabec are the 2024 Dakar Rally champions after overcoming the demanding dunes in cars and bikes respectively.

The pair entered the final 328km stage with a 175km special looping to and from Yanbu with the lead in both categories and retained it.

Sainz and his co-driver Lucas Cruz were never likely to be troubled coming in with a comfortable 1h26m6s advantage over Guillaume De Mevius.

The records will say forever that the Audi team eventually won by 1h20m25s over De Mevius, while earlier contender and another WRC legend Sebastien Loeb had to settle for third.

Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz on their way to a famous Dakar win. Image by Marcelo Maragni / Red Bull Content Pool

This is despite Loeb winning the final stage by five minutes over De Mevius, while winner Sainz came home 17th.

It is Sainz’ fifth Dakar Rally victory with Audi joining Volkswagen, Peugeot and Mini in the long list of manufacturers the two-time WRC champion has tasted success with.

At 61, the Spaniard is now the oldest Dakar Rally winner.

“This car is so special. It’s so difficult to manage. It has been so difficult to make it work but I’m so happy for Audi,” said Sainz, who led from Stage 6 after Saudi driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi retired. 

“To be here with my age and to stay at the level, you need to work a lot before.

“It’s not coming just like that. It shows that when you work hard, normally it pays off.”

Ricky Brabec soaks up Dakar Rally glory.

The bikes were much less of a formality with Brabec only enjoying a 10m22s buffer over Ross Branch.

However, the American did not have to worry as he beat his Botswana rival in the final stage to extend his overall margin by 31s.

Brabec finished seventh in the stage, two spots ahead of Branch as the finale was dominated by KTM.

Argentine Kevin Benavides took out the stage and led home Australian teammate Toby Price by exactly a minute.

The fast finish ensured Price secured fifth place overall, meaning the two-time champion has never been outside of the top 10 when finishing the demanding rally.

GasGas Aussie Daniel Sanders crossed the line 12th fastest to finish a painful rally eighth overall.

Toby Price finished Dakar on a high. Image: Marcelo Maragni / Red Bull Content Pool

This was Brabec’s second victory after 2020 but he quickly expressed his feelings that the journey to victory in 2024 was “a lot tougher”.

“This one is a little bit different,” Brabec said. 

“I feel like this was more earned. This was a lot tougher. In 2020, we had a big gap from the get-go. 

“Here, I think me and Ross spent three days with a couple of seconds difference.”

In T3 Australia’s Glenn Brinkman and Dale Moscatt finished their journey through the Dakar dunes by coming home a solid 17th in the stage.

As a result Brinkman can claim he has conquered the Dakar Rally, finishing his debut campaign 26th in class.

Cristina Gutierrez made history by becoming the first woman to win a class at the Dakar Rally in 23 years having triumphed in the Challenger category.

Cristina Gutierrez smiles after finding out about her Rally Dakar success. Image Marcelo Maragni / Red Bull Content Pool

Gutierrez was shocked to win having overcome a 25 minute deficit to Mitchell Guthrie in the final stage to make history.

“It was an unbelievable moment. When I finished, I thought, ‘Okay, Paolo (Moreno Huete) good job, we finished second,” she said.

“Then, I saw one of our friends from Spain at the finish, making a gesture with his hand like, ‘Go, go, go, you can win’ and I said, ‘I don’t understand.’ 

“After I finished (I headed to) the media press zone, and it was surprising to see everyone screaming and shouting. 

“People kept telling me that maybe I won. And I didn’t realise at the moment, ‘Maybe? What is maybe?’ 

“They said Mitch had stalled. I experienced mixed emotions – a bit of pain for Mitch, but also immense happiness because my dream had come true. 

When they confirmed the results, I started to celebrate. It was an amazing moment that I will never forget in my life. It was incredible.”

Maim image by Marcelo Maragni / Red Bull Content Pool

2024 Dakar Rally Cars results

2024 Dakar Rally Bikes results

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