Dakar Rally: Al-Attiyah's Title Hopes Dented After Wheel Issues

Five-time Dakar Rally winner Nasser Al-Attiyah suffered wheel issues, dropping to seventh place and 35 minutes behind leader Henk Lategan.

Nasser Al-Attiyah, a five-time Dakar Rally winner, encountered difficulties on Wednesday, becoming the latest top contender to struggle in the Saudi Arabian desert. This setback follows the departures of Sebastien Loeb and defending champion Carlos Sainz from the competition.

Al-Attiyah, driving a Dacia Sandrider, began the day in second place, hot on the heels of Toyota's South African leader Henk Lategan. However, his chances of closing the gap took a hit when he suffered wheel issues, causing him to drop to seventh place and trail Lategan by 35 minutes.

Yazeed Al-Rajhi, a local favorite, secured a thrilling victory in stage four of the Dakar Rally, covering 415 kilometers from Al-Henakiyah to Al Ula. Driving for the Toyota Overdrive Racing team, Al-Rajhi finished four minutes and 51 seconds ahead of overall leader Henk Lategan. This impressive performance allowed Al-Rajhi to narrow the gap and move up to second place overall, just six minutes and 54 seconds behind Lategan.

The Dakar Rally has seen several high-profile withdrawals, including nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb, who was forced out on Tuesday due to damage to his car. Defending champion Carlos Sainz also exited the competition on Monday after rolling his Ford. Meanwhile, in the motorcycle category, Australian rider Daniel Sanders continued his dominance, securing his fourth stage win out of five, including the prologue. Sanders now leads by 13 minutes and 26 seconds over Spain's Tosha Schareina.

The motorcycle standings remain intense, with Botswana's Ross Branch holding third place overall, while defending champion Ricky Brabec of the United States sits in fifth place, nearly half an hour off the lead. The grueling two-week rally is set to conclude on January 17th, with competitors facing numerous challenges as they navigate the demanding Saudi Arabian terrain.