Several competitors dropped out of contention for overall victory in the first full stage near Ha’il, as navigation again proved to be a tricky affair in the deserts of Saudi Arabia.
Just 70km from the finish line, many leading drivers and riders got lost on a winding sandy track, leaving astonishing images as they searched for the right waypoint.
This also created a safety issue as the risk of an accident increased with the arrival of four-wheeled vehicles, as different types of machines crossed in opposite directions.
Bahrain Raid Xtreme driver Nani Roma said he almost collided head-on with Audi’s Carlos Sainz after passing over a crest, reporting that they escaped an accident by only a few centimetres.
His rival and three-time Dakar champion Sainz was one of the worst affected drivers of the day, losing more than two hours in a desperate attempt to find the right direction.
In the roadbook for the first stage of Dakar 2022, which was seen by Autosport, a right fork at…
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