This first stage of the Dakar 2025 is already full of twists and turns. A funny situation where car drivers found themselves deprived of GPS and the “Sentinel” system. Despite going straight into the trees, Guerlain Chicherit (MINI) achieved the best time of the day. Stuck in the dust of their competitors and the bikes, the favorites are already losing a lot of time!
Dakar 2025, already full of twists and turns in the first stage!
In order not to open tomorrow, for the start of the 48 hours, many favorites found themselves slowing down so as not to finish in front. But an unprecedented technical glitch has happened to all of the car competitors! Indeed, very quickly in the special, the GPS tablet and the “Sentinel” system fell out of order. A big bug that sends the board back 20 years. But above all it is a dangerous situation because the “Sentinel” is there to warn bikers and other cars of the presence of a competitor behind them. In the very heavy dust of the day, it was almost impossible to overtake! Thus, Sébastien Loeb (Dacia), for example, found himself stuck behind Nani Roma (Ford) for more than half of the special.
In front, in a technical imbroglio at the finish, it was Guerlain Chicherit who won the stage victory! Despite a straight line smashing into the trees and the start of a fire forcing him to stop, the MINI driver achieved the best time by just 50 seconds. Seth Quintero (Toyota) is second. The podium is completed by Saood Variawa (Toyota) 1min03 behind. Martin Prokop (Ford) is fourth, just one second off the podium! Magnificent performance from Cristina Gutierrez with the 5th time of the day, best Dacia!
Carlos Sainz (Ford) is 7th of the day at 2mins32. Despite mechanical setbacks which caused them to push their Toyota Hilux across the finish line, Toby Price and Sam Sunderland finished 9th at 3mins13. Henk Lategan (Toyota) completes the top 10. Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia) is twentieth at 10 minutes while Sébastien Loeb (Dacia) is 23rd at 11mins31. Gaps which may seem significant but which are minimal at the start of the Dakar.
Guerlain Chicherit is therefore the first leader of this Dakar 2025!
Eventful birthday for Van Beveren.
Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) celebrates his birthday today. Unfortunately, he celebrates this special day without a stage victory. On the contrary, he had a minor fall at the start of the special. He lost 14mins44 seconds and finished 8th of the day. Daniel Sanders (KTM) wins the stage ahead of Ricky Brabec (Honda) and Ross Branch (Hero). The top 5 is completed by Skyler Howes (Honda) and Tosha Schareina (Honda). Note that Howkes was recredited by several minutes because he stopped next to Sebastian Buhler (Hero) who fell at kilometer 68. Sanders is therefore the first leader in the motorcycle category this year.
Tomorrow, the much-feared 48h Chrono awaits those participating in the 2025 Dakar. The motorcycles will have a different route from the cars/SSVs and trucks. This will therefore complicate the task of the first cars on the road! There should be many surprises and significant gaps on Monday when this second stage arrives.
Article published on 01/04/2025 at 2:05 p.m.
