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Headline: RAW VIDEO: Dakar Rally's Spectacular Start In Saudi Arabia Continues With Gruelling Stage 2
Caption: The first half of the second stage of the 2025 Dakar Rally, a gruelling 48-hour marathon across Saudi Arabia’s deserts, saw Toyota privateer Yazeed Al-Rajhi seize the lead after a day of high-stakes racing. Al-Rajhi held a narrow advantage over Dacia’s Nasser Al-Attiyah, with the pair pushing each other relentlessly over more than 600km before the day’s racing cut-off at 5pm. The Saudi driver, leveraging his local knowledge, took control during the latter part of the stage, finishing just over a minute ahead of his Qatari rival. Both drivers camped in the desert overnight, preparing to resume their battle on Monday morning. While the frontrunners thrived, two motorsport legends faced significant challenges. Carlos Sainz Sr, the four-time Dakar champion, encountered disaster 327km into the stage. The Spaniard’s Ford Raptor T1+ rolled over in the dunes near Bisha, leaving him temporarily stranded. His team-mate Mitch Guthrie Jr stopped to assist, helping Sainz get back on his wheels. However, the damage and lost time proved costly, with Sainz finishing the day almost an hour adrift of the leaders. This setback marks a major blow for the defending champion, who started the day in eighth position and had been targeting a strong finish to keep his hopes alive. Nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb also faced difficulties. His Dacia Sandrider came to a halt with engine trouble 409km into the stage, costing him valuable time. Assisted by team-mate Cristina Gutiérrez, Loeb eventually resumed, but he ended the day in 17th place, over 30 minutes behind the pacesetters. Loeb’s troubles highlight the unpredictable nature of the Dakar Rally, even for the most experienced competitors. One of the standout performances of the day came from Dakar rookie Toby Price, a two-time Bike category champion. Partnered with co-driver Sam Sunderland, Price showcased impressive adaptability in the Ultimate class. The duo completed the stage just 16m20s behind Al-Rajhi, firmly establishing themselves as contenders. Meanwhile, Ford’s Mattias Ekström impressed with a third-place finish, eight minutes behind the leaders, while Toyota’s Henk Lategan secured fourth. The marathon stage, introduced last year, requires competitors to race without external assistance, adding a layer of complexity to an already gruelling event. Covering nearly 1,000km over two days, drivers must push their limits while carefully managing their vehicles.
Keywords: dakar rally,motorsport,feature,video,photo,carlos sainz,cars,saudi arabia
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