Quatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah Clinches Fifth Dakar Touareg in Final Stage
In a dramatic finish to the Dakar Rally, Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah aboard a Toyota secured his fifth Touareg title, sealing the victory with a calm and calculated performance on the final day. He entered the concluding stage with a substantial advantage, maintaining a comfortable buffer of over an hour in front of the pursuing pack as the rally wrapped up in the Saudi heartland between Al-Holuf and Dammam.
Finishing the last leg in second place with a time gap of 1:18:49, Sebastien Loeb of Prodrive earned his place on the podium’s second rung for the sixth time in a row, adding three overall victories (2019, 2022, 2023) and three runner-up finishes (2018, 2020, 2021) to his Dakar résumé. Loeb’s steady rhythm throughout the event helped him weather an uneven start and emerge as the rally’s most consistent performer over the course of the week.
Al-Attiyah’s defense of the championship was marked by resilience and strategic pacing. He navigated various challenges posed by rivals including a resurgent Carlos Sainz, who had claimed an early stage win for Audi, and Loeb, who racked up seven stage wins, six of which came consecutively. The Qatari did not chase risky gambits; instead, he focused on maintaining lead and minimizing exposure to mechanical or navigational setbacks, a plan that paid off as the competition progressed.
With five Dakar titles now to his name (2011, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2023), Al-Attiyah moved past Finnish legend Ari Vatanen on the all-time winners list and stretched his margin ahead of France’s Stéphane Peterhansel, who trails with eight Dakar trophies. The final stage confirmed Al-Attiyah’s supremacy across this edition, while Loeb’s bid for a first Dakar overall victory remained just short of the top spot despite a string of stage successes.
Guerlain Chicherit, driving for Prodrive, delivered the best time at the first checkpoint of the final stage, a demanding segment spanning 281 competitive kilometers and 136 liaison kilometers. The route featured varied terrain, including a lake bed with dirt, patches of mud, and stretches of sand, testing both speed and endurance as teams pushed toward the finish line.
Argentine Sebastian Halpern, in a Mini, was 16 seconds behind Chicherit after the opening phase, while Henk Lategan of Toyota moved into third place behind them, a testament to the competitiveness of the early standings. Loeb briefly led the stage but later ceded time, and Al-Attiyah inched closer to the finish with a steady pace that kept him within reach of the overall lead as the clock counted down to the end of the race.
The final miles were tense but controlled. The Sheikh did not seek unnecessary risks, and misfortune befell others, such as Mathieu Serradori who suffered an engine failure 10 kilometers from the stage’s end. Serradori dropped down in the general classification, his car unable to complete the two-wheel-drive section of the event as the field pressed on toward the last checkpoints of the rally. He remained a notable figure among competitors, illustrating the fragile balance between speed and reliability in long-distance racing.
Mid-race, Chicherit increased his lead by about 43 seconds over his closest rival, with Mattias Ekström of Audi also in contention as the sole surviving manufacturer entry after Sainz and Peterhansel’s withdrawals. Halpern, a steady challenger, dropped to fourth while chasing the leaders, a reminder of how quickly positions can shift on a Dakar stage.
As the final waypoint approached, Ekström narrowed the gap to about 40 seconds, but Chicherit extended his advantage to clinch the stage win. The overall outcome remained focused on Al-Attiyah, who maintained a prominent lead and crossed the finish line with a time of 45:03:15, caringly defending his fifth Dakar title. Loeb finished second overall, with Brazilian Lucas Moraes in a Toyota rounding out the podium at 1:36:31 behind the winner. The result underscored a Dakar edition defined by consistency, weathering adversity, and strategic execution across a wide and demanding course.
Ultimately, the Dakar drew to a close with Al-Attiyah’s fifth triumph echoing across the desert and cementing his status as one of the rally’s most enduring champions. The race showcased a blend of daring stage wins, cautious navigation, and the relentless pursuit of a steady, sustainable pace that can outlast even the toughest rivals. All eyes now turn to future editions as the Dakar continues to test drivers, teams, and machines in one of motorsport’s most unforgiving arenas. [citation: Dakar organizers, event reports, and team briefings].