The grueling 48-hour Chrono Stage of the 2025 Dakar Rally came to an end on Monday, January 6, leaving competitors exhausted but determined. Covering nearly 1,000 kilometers over two days of relentless desert terrain, the stage tested every ounce of endurance and skill from the racers. While some thrived, others faced crushing setbacks.
Ultimate Class: Lategan Leads, Al-Attiyah Charges Up the Standings
South Africa’s Henk Lategan maintained his composure to lead the Ultimate class, completing the stage in 15:40:30. However, five-time champion Nasser Al-Attiyah demonstrated his experience and resilience, overcoming punctures and power-steering issues to secure third place overall, just 11 minutes and 14 seconds behind Lategan.
Teammate Sébastien Loeb battled back from an overheating issue to finish less than 20 minutes behind the leader, while Australian Dakar rookie Toby Price and co-driver Sam Sunderland climbed to fourth overall after a strong, near-faultless performance. Price shared his thoughts on the challenging stage:
“At one point we got past Nasser and were opening the way, but then he just blew back by us. Sammy did a great job. I gave his head a good rattle.”
Setbacks for seasoned racers like Carlos Sainz, Cristina Gutiérrez, and Nani Roma highlighted the brutal nature of this stage.
Bikes: Sanders Extends His Dominance
Australia’s Daniel Sanders showcased his mastery in the Bike class, finishing with a commanding 12-minute and 36-second lead over Skyler Howes. Despite battling dust and unpredictable dunes, Sanders remained upbeat:
“When you’re opening, there’s no line, so you don’t know if it’s going to be a soft or hard dune. I don’t feel tired at all. I’m ready for what’s still to come.”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammates Luciano Benavides and rookie Edgar Canet delivered solid performances, securing sixth and eleventh places overall, respectively.
Challenger Class: Guerreiro Stays Close to the Top
In the Challenger class, Gonçalo Guerreiro and Corbin Leaverton of the Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team held their ground. Guerreiro, just six minutes and 20 seconds behind leader Nicolas Cavigliasso, remained optimistic despite challenges in the dunes:
“We had a tense moment yesterday, but we were able to fix the car. We’re still in the game.”
Leaverton secured third place in the stage and overall standings, while Saudi driver Dania Akeel impressed with a steady sixth-place finish.
SSV: De Soultrait Maintains the Lead
In the SSV category, France’s Xavier de Soultrait extended his lead, while Chilean veteran Francisco López lost nearly three hours due to technical difficulties, slipping to ninth place overall.
Looking Ahead: Stage 3 – Bisha to Al Henakiyah
As the convoy departs Bisha for the last time, Stage 3 takes competitors north to Al Henakiyah. The timed special stage has been adjusted to a challenging 327 kilometers, promising another day of high-stakes action.
Selected Overall Standings After Stage 2
Ultimate Class
- Henk Lategan (ZAF) – 15:40:30
- Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) +11:14
- Toby Price (AUS) +11:44
- Sébastien Loeb (FRA) +18:56
- Carlos Sainz (ESP) +1:30:11
Challenger Class
- Nicolas Cavigliasso (ARG) – 16:45:02
- Gonçalo Guerreiro (POR) +6:20
- Corbin Leaverton (USA) +18:24
SSV Class
- Xavier de Soultrait (FRA) – 16:57:52
- Francisco López (CHL) +2:49:12
Bike Class
- Daniel Sanders (AUS) – 16:10:31
- Luciano Benavides (ARG) +22:31
- Edgar Canet (ESP) +54:17
The Dakar Rally 2025 continues to thrill and challenge, with each stage reshaping the leaderboard and revealing new heroes. Stay tuned for more updates as the adventure unfolds.
Source: Redbull Content Pool
This article was crafted with assistance from Chatgpt
