Title holder Carlos Sainz injured in the 2nd stage

The second stage of the Dakar 2025, contested under the formidable 48-hour format, has already caused damage this Sunday morning in Saudi Arabia. While the competitors set off early this morning from Bisha, which they will return to on Monday after a 967 km loop for the Car category, things have changed.

Better classified among the favorites on the road, since he occupied eighth place in the general classification on Saturday evening, Carlos Sainz was the victim of an accident at the 327th kilometer of the special. The competitors had just rushed into the first cordons of dunes of this 47th edition.

The defending champion put his Ford Raptor on the roof, but the crew he formed with his co-driver Lucas Cruz was announced unscathed.

Teammate of the Spanish veteran at M-Sport, Mitch Guthrie briefly stopped near the #225 car before leaving. At the last checkpoint passed, Carlos Sainz was in 15th place in the special, almost 22 minutes behind the provisional leader, Nasser Al-Attiyah.

According to information collected on site by Motorsport.comCarlos Sainz was in a sandy area when he rolled after a jump, around 10 a.m. this morning (12 p.m. local time). It was the rear part of the Ford Raptor that was damaged.

After losing approximately 23 minutes, the crew managed to resume their route. It remains to be seen the pace that will be maintained and the extent of the damage that could remain, while no assistance strictly speaking is possible this Sunday. The competitors must in fact stop in a very basic bivouac and sleep under the stars at the end of the day, before continuing their journey early Monday morning to complete the special.

Avec Mario Galan