Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah received the Dakar Rally automotive crown for the fifth time Sunday, whereas Argentine KTM rider Kevin Benavides triumphed on two wheels to take his second title in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Attiyah, the reigning champion for Toyota with French co-driver Mathieu Baumel, completed the ultimate 14th stage to Dammam on the Gulf coast with a lead of 1 hour and 20 minutes over France’s nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb.
The Qatari, who led from stage three as rivals hit hassle, now ranks second within the checklist of all-time winners within the automotive class behind eight instances champion Stephane Peterhansel of France.
Peterhansel, the “Mr. Dakar” who retired from this 12 months’s version after crashing his electrical hybrid Audi, has additionally received the bike crown six instances.
“It was really a tough Dakar for everybody but we managed to win again. It’s amazing to defend our title. I am happy to win five times, Mathieu four times now,” mentioned al-Attiyah.
“We need to keep going and to win more and more. We finished Dakar and we try to defend our world championship,” added the reigning FIA Rally-Raid (W2RC) world champion.
“We didn’t need to really push, to be crazy. We need to accept what we get. Just to finish and win the Dakar is very important to me.”
Loeb had received a file six phases in a row as much as Sunday for the Bahrain Raid Xtreme group however compatriot Guerlain Chicherit took the ultimate honors in Dammam.
Brazilian rookie Lucas Moraes completed third total in a Toyota Hilux for Overdrive Racing.
On the bikes, Benavides beat Australian Toby Price, additionally a double Dakar champion who had began the day 12 seconds clear, by 43 seconds after successful the ultimate dash to victory.
“The first point is disappointment. We’ve come so far, but look, Kevin’s done a great job,” mentioned Price, who needed to flip again for 2 missed waypoints that value him the race.
“Hard to take at the moment, but at the end of the day I’m going home in one piece and we got a Dakar trophy. It hurts a little bit.”
American Skyler Howes completed third total for the Husqvarna manufacturing facility group.
Frenchman Alexandre Giroud received the quadbike title for the second 12 months in a row.
Dutch driver Janus Van Kasteren received the truck class in his Iveco, ending a run of success for Kamaz courting again to 2017.
