Qatari rally ace Nasser Al-Attiyah, the current Dakar champion driving for Prodrive, pushed through the Saudi desert’s first major stage on Wednesday and edged Spaniard Carlos Sainz, piloting an Audi, by 2 minutes and 28 seconds to hold onto the overall lead. The stage performance solidified Al-Attiyah’s position at the top as the race rolled into its midsection, underscoring his consistency in the early desert grind.
Rather than opting for safety games, Al-Attiyah broke from the crowd as many had predicted, knowing the true test would come the next day with the queen stage. Dakar 2024 organizers had scheduled a 48-hour time trial in the Empty Quarter, the harshest stretch of the Arabian Rub’ al Khali, where cars and motorcycles will navigate separate routes over two demanding days. This setup promises a brutal test of endurance and navigation under extreme conditions.
As the first rider to start the upcoming 48-hour segment, the Qatari enters the trial with a reputation for resilience. Although this particular format places him at a disadvantage in the short term, Al-Attiyah has consistently shown an ability to convert tough days into stage wins. He has made clear there is no grand plan for the queen stage beyond perseverance and a focused push to finish the roughly 600-kilometer sand sprint. The road ahead will demand not just speed but strategic pacing amid shifting dune patterns and dwindling daylight.
Meanwhile, Sainz remained vigilant. He acknowledged balancing aggressive acceleration with the need to conserve tires, fuel, and mental resources as the dunes grow taller and the tempo intensifies. His approach Friday and Thursday will either validate the cautious route or reward a late surge as the field closes in. The Spaniard emphasized patience, noting that the best move may reveal itself only after upcoming stages test the contenders’ endurance and mental stamina under the desert stars.
Wednesday’s stage set the stage for a longer arc: teams and drivers must cover more than 550 kilometers within two days and will bivouac in tents amid the desert night, relying on compact, military-style rations rather than conventional meals. The experience is as much about survival as it is about speed, and it demands meticulous preparation and a cool head when sand, heat, and fatigue converge. The overall narrative remains simple yet compelling: every kilometer matters, every dune presents a new challenge, and the desert writes its own rules as the Dakar race presses forward. [Source: Dakar Organization, event briefings]”