Troubles are piling up for Sébastien Loeb on this 2025 Dakar. Already the victim of mechanical problems on Sunday, the French driver this time rolled his car at the start of the third stage between Bisha and Al-Henakiyah.
A minor accident for the Frenchman and his co-pilot Fabian Lurquin who left after a five-minute stop at kilometer 12… before stopping a second time at kilometer 63, according to the organizers.
At the first score, at km 36, the nine-time WRC world rally champion, who is still chasing a first Dakar title in his ninth participation, was 8min 17sec behind provisional leader Mattias Ekström.
This accident occurs the day after the retirement of title holder Carlos Sainz, who had to retire due to damage to his roll bar after his Ford Raptor rolled over during the “48 hours flat”.
Due to rain on the route, the Dakar rally shortened to 327 km, compared to 496 km initially, the route of the third special between Bisha and Al Henakiyah. The race, currently dominated by the South African Henk Lategan in the car and the Australian Daniel Sanders in the motorcycle, ends on January 17 in the Empty Quarter desert.
