Stage three of the Dakar Rally stretched from Al Ula to Hail in Saudi Arabia, featuring 447 competitive kilometers and 221 liaison kilometers. Severe weather forced the suspension of the event for cars after weather conditions rendered the route unsafe, with a 378-kilometer segment affected. Carlos Sainz, driving for Audi, relinquished leadership as he finished 35:23 behind the new top rider, Nasser Al-Attiyah, which dropped him from first to a lower overall position. This turn of events underscored how weather can tilt a rally’s outcome in an instant. The organizers stated that deteriorating conditions could not guarantee safety for support helicopters or competitors, prompting the decision to halt Stage 3. The Dakar Rally confirmed the disruption due to safety concerns, emphasizing that participants were otherwise in strong form. (Dakar Rally, 2023)
Chicherit Triumphs. Guerlain Chicherit of Prodrive claimed the stage victory with a time of 3h22:57, ahead of Henk Lategan from Toyota and Orlando Terranova from Argentina who took the podium for the stage. In the broader standings, Yazeed Al-Rajhi led the field in this portion of the edition, securing fifth place overall, just behind Stéphane Peterhansel in an Audi car.
With the day unfolding, Sainz faced a challenging run. Mechanical issues and two stoppages, one lasting about half an hour at the 213-kilometer mark, slowed his charge and pushed him down the general ranking.
Sainz Drops to Eighth Overall
Following the difficulties, the Spaniard known as “El Matador” slipped to eighth overall, trailing leader Al-Attiyah by 33:11. Al-Attiyah held a 13:20 edge over Al-Rajhi, while Peterhansel remained 10:45 behind. The race reaction to the tough second stage, which erased many favorites, hinted at a potential duel between Sainz and Al-Attiyah, though the eventual outcome remained unpredictable. The Audi team had led Al-Attiyah briefly after a private 47-kilometer ride, a stretch where Al-Rajhi had shown speed, 35 seconds faster than Madrid.
France’s Guerlain Chicherit clocked the fastest time at the 95th kilometer with 50:26, followed by Henk Lategan at 50:43 and Sainz at 51:50, edging the defending champion by 1:40. In the update, Lategan moved to the front 31 seconds ahead of Chicherit at the 147th minute mark, as Terranova completed third and Sainz fell further behind. A few seconds later, Terranova began closing in on the leaders as the battle for the podium intensified. Sainz trailed by 3:21 with 6:17 left in the stage, closing the gap with Al-Attiyah, who led a tight group.
Wheel Problems and Setbacks
Mid-stage trouble hit Sainz with mechanical issues on the left rear wheel. Al-Attiyah did not fare well either, and at the 240-kilometer point, Chicherit was ahead with Lategan 45 seconds behind and Terranova maintaining third, though more than three minutes off the leader. The general standings displayed Sainz as a driver under pressure, and fans watched as Al-Attiyah built a growing advantage. A post from the event highlighted Sainz stopping at 213 kilometers to address the car, hinting at a potential shift in the overall balance.
As the race progressed, the gap widened. Al-Attiyah led Sainz by 26:28, with the Spaniard pushing hard to close the gap. The 288-kilometer stage saw Sainz reduce the deficit to 20:53, while Chicherit extended the stage lead by 2:14 over Lategan. Yet at the 335-kilometer checkpoint, Sainz could not maintain momentum and lagged by 36:28 against the Qatari. The duel tilted decisively in favor of Chicherit as the stage culminated with a 3:43 lead over Lategan. The weather turn again confirmed the rally’s unpredictable nature.
Barreda Fifth on Motorcycles with a Broken Finger
On the motorcycle front, Australian Daniel Sanders of GasGas won Stage 3, defeating Ricky Brabec on Honda and Joan Barreda of Honda who finished fifth, 11:29 behind the winner. The stage brought a mix of resilience and risk, as riders faced rain, wet ground, and slippery sections. Sanders had slowed down earlier to avoid the runway at the end of Stage 2 and, despite prior elbow surgeries, pressed forward to claim the stage victory. Barreda, who battled a broken toe sustained on Monday, managed to finish among the top riders, showing grit in the demanding terrain.
The day also featured Mason Klein, who opened the circuit and later secured a notable finish with a subtle but meaningful performance that highlighted the stage’s added bonuses. The organizers introduced a bonus system on the 240-kilometer refueling point, creating strategic incentives for riders to push the pace while managing risk. Heavy rain and puddles made the fast stage a test of nerve and precision. Sanders posted the fastest time at the 47-kilometer mark, a signal of his early-stage speed against Brabec and Howes.
#Dakar2023 showcased a dramatic shift in momentum. Brabec reduced Sanders’ lead to nine seconds at the 95-kilometer point, while Svitko from Slovakia finished third with a 1:45 gap. Toby Price encountered setbacks and lost more than six minutes to Sanders after 147 kilometers, with Barreda facing a similar fate later in the stage. After the 2:15 mark, bonuses were applied at kilometer 240; Howes led with a 3:40 compensation, while Klein trailed 38 seconds behind, and Sanders moved just ahead of Brabec by a small margin. The Honda rider who won in 2020 had to retire after a crash 274 kilometers from the stage’s end, with neck pain prompting medical evaluation. The defending champion remained a top contender but faced a growing challenge from rivals like Sam Sunderland.
Returning to the course after 288 kilometers and without extra bonuses, Sanders regained the lead with Howes close behind, Klein following, and Benavides making a late push. The South American rider reduced the gap, but Sanders steadied his position with a four-minute cushion in the final stretch. In the end, Sanders leveraged a slight edge over Klein, followed by Howes and Benavides as the finish line loomed. The day’s results underscored the volatility of the Dakar and the endurance required to survive its harsh conditions, with the ultimate winner of Stage 3 proving that persistence alongside fast pace can shape the overall narrative of the rally. (Race reports, 2023)
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