Driving for the Prodrive-run Bahrain Raid Xtreme team, Loeb led from start to finish in the 338km special between Ha’il and Al Artawiyah, clinching his 15th stage win in Dakar – and the first since 2019.
The Frenchman built a 12-second lead over Toyota driver Al-Attiyah by the first checkpoint and gradually extended his advantage thereafter, finishing the stage 3m28s clear of the three-time Dakar champion.
The result helped Loeb make a dent into Al-Attiyah’s lead in the general classifications, although the Qatari driver still enjoys a healthy 9m16s cushion heading into Tuesday’s 255km stage from Al Artawiyah to Al Qaysumah.
Audi mounted a strong comeback in Stage 2 after a disastrous outing for its three RS Q e-trons on Sunday, with Carlos Sainz leading the charge for the German manufacturer in third.
Having lost over two hours in Stage 1 with navigational troubles, the three-time Dakar champion finished just 5m52s off the pace of Loeb on Monday, showcasing the raw pace of…
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