F1Weekly Podcast # 973
Play Podcast: 01-10-23f1weekly973.mp3
NASIR AND THE HOST BOTH STUNNED BY KEN BLOCK’S DEATH AND THE PASSING OF MICHEL FERTÉ AT 64. COUNTING THE DAYS ON OUR MOTORSPORTS MEMORIES CALENDAR! MOTORSPORTS MONDIAL FULLY LOADED AS USUAL AND DAKAR RALLY CONTINUES TO ROLL WITH STAGE NINE TODAY…
Stage Nine of the 2023 Dakar Rally pushes the convoy into the Empty Quarter desert.
Rest Day disappearing in the rearview mirror, Stage Nine brought the 2023 Dakar Rally to the edge of the Empty Quarter desert. It is these mighty sand dunes that will ultimately decide who gets the glory at this edition of the world’s most brutal rally. Let’s see how things stand after another punishing day at the Dakar…
The second week of this Dakar started with immediate changes to the overall car race podium. A tough opening week had seen Sébastien Loeb’s chances of a first Dakar win suffer a serious dent. However, the nine-time WRC winner and co-driver Fabian Lurquin are fighting back and a stage win today has seen their Prodrive BRX Hunter back on the podium, in third overall.
Sebastien Loeb (FRA) for Bahrain Raid Xtreme races during stage 9 of Rally Dakar 2023 from Riyadh to Haradh, Saudi Arabia onJanuary 10, 2023. // Flavien Duhamel / Red Bull Content Pool.
“It was a good stage for us, a good drive most of the way.” – Sébastien Loeb
There was also a move up the general classification today for rookie Lucas Moraes and co-driver Timo Gottschalk in their Toyota Hilux. Moraes’s first week at the Dakar couldn’t have gone much better, now his second week has started with him moving up to second overall.
“We were very patient today. We’re focused on the overall, that’s the big picture for us.” – Lucas Moraes
Still way out in front in the car race are defending champions Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel. Another faultless drive on Stage Nine saw Al-Attiyah stretch his advantage in the general classification to 1h 21m 57s.
“We must respect the route and give everything we have to overcome the remaining five stages. We have our lead because we kept our concentration throughout the first week.” – Nasser Al-Attiyah
It was another dramatic day for Team Audi Sport and in particular the race crew of Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz. The duo’s Audi RS Q e-tron E2 flipped over on the dunes just five kilometres into Stage Nine and was unable to complete the day’s course.
Matthias Walkner (AUT) for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing races during stage 9 of Rally Dakar 2023 from Riyadh to Haradh, Saudi Arabia onJanuary 10, 2023. // Flavien Duhamel / Red Bull Content Pool.
It’s clear that Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price used the Rest Day to recharge his batteries. The two-time Dakar bike race winner went on the attack on Stage Nine and finished the day just THREE seconds off the overall lead.
“It was good to get a Rest Day in yesterday and be able to give it a good hit today.” – Toby Price
Joining Price on the overall podium is his KTM team-mate Kevin Benavides who is currently third. Benavides celebrated his 34th birthday during yesterday’s Rest Day. Now the Argentinian is just five minutes off the lead as he hunts a second Dakar bike race title.
“Today was a really hard stage with lots of difficult navigation. I tried to make a good pace while keeping the focus on finding the right way.” – Kevin Benavides
Daniel Sanders on his GASGAS and KTM’s Matthias Walkner were among the bikers struggling to stay on the right track on Stage Nine as the navigational challenges came thick and fast.
“It was so hard to find the way. This has been my worst day so far at this Dakar.” – Matthias Walkner