The three-time Dakar winner lost almost eight minutes to nearest rival Sebastian Loeb in the overall classification by the end of the 395km Stage 8 between Dawadimi and Wadi Ad Dawasir, having completed the majority of the stage with only front-wheel drive with his Toyota while he also suffered a puncture early into the test.
The Qatari driver, who finished Stage 8 in 11th place, explained his Toyota’s rear differential was overheating, forcing him to switch to front-wheel drive and complete the stage “really scared” of a bigger mechanical problem which could have forced him to stop.
“We had only front-wheel drive as we broke the rear and I was really scared all the way,” Al-Attiyah said.
“But [on] the last part I said I don’t care, the last 50km I tried to push a little bit but it was not easy with only the front wheels, but it was OK. I am really lucky to be here and we lost only seven minutes from Seb.”
During the stage Al-Attiyah could hear the rear…
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