Peterhansel beats Attiyah, Benavides takes bikes Stephane Peterhansel and Edouard Boulanger’s Mini buggy has beaten Nasser Al Attiyah and Matthieu Baumel’s Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa Hilux to win Dakar 2021 Saudi Arabia. French legend Peterhansel won just one stage as he led from day 1 to take his fourteenth Dakar victory, while Attiyah took […]
Dakar 2021 is heading to a sensational climax following Thursday’s penultimate Day 11. KTM-mounted Briton Sam Sunderland came from a quarter-hour behind to set up a KTM versus Honda fight to the finish. He won the day to split Honda rivals Kevin Benavides in the overall standings. Nasser Al Attiyah’s Toyota made a couple of […]
By Steven Batey Arctic Rally Finland will join the 2021 FIA World Rally Championship as a replacement for Rally Sweden and take place between February 26-28. Sweden was forced to cancel its round of this season’s WRC after a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases throughout the winter, with the Rovaniemi based event having now been chosen as a replacement. As the name suggests, the new […]
By: Maria Guidotti | motorsport.com Nasser Al-Attiyah believes buggy competitors at the Dakar Rally have an inherent advantage over his Toyota Gazoo Racing squad ahead of the showdown in his victory battle with Stephane Peterhansel. The three-time Dakar winner trimmed overall leader Peterhansel’s advantage by 49 seconds on Stage 10, finishing second to Yazeed Al […]
Focus Welcome to a different world. Over hundreds of thousands of years, geological processes fashion rocks into gargantuan sculptures with shapes that can be familiar or, on the contrary, rather psychedelic: a mushroom here, a mammoth there, over there a tulip, a pyramid or a Greek colony… In this surrealist landscape, the competitors’ main concern […]
By Steven Batey New Hyundai Motorsport signing Oliver Solberg says he’s “already very happy and comfortable” with his new surroundings ahead of his first competitive appearence for the team this weekend. Solberg, who has signed a two-year deal with the Korean manufacturer, will get behind the wheel of a i20 R5 in a rally for the first time this weekend […]
Eighty-four crews feature in a high-quality entry for the 2021 FIA World Rally Championship’s opening round at Rallye Monte-Carlo next week (21 – 24 January). Organiser Automobile Club de Monaco released the list on Monday. It features 10 starters in the headline World Rally Car category, as well as strong fields in the WRC2 and […]
Al Rajhi beats race leaders, drama in bikes Dakar’s tenth stage was a day of contrasts. Yazeed Al Rajhi added another car stage win to Toyota’s 2021 collection ahead of Nasser Al Attiyah and overall leader Stephane Peterhansel, who maintained his 17-minute lead. It was far more dramatic in the motorcycles, however. Overall leader Jose […]
by Phillip Horton Formula 1 has overhauled its 2021 calendar, confirming the return of Imola, as the championship continues to suffer the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Formula 1 unveiled a 23-round 2021 calendar last year but the first changes have now been ratified and released by series organisers. The proposed season-opener in Australia on March […]
Written by Keith Collantine Renault has announced the departure of Cyril Abiteboul, who ran its Formula 1 team until last season. Abiteboul oversaw Renault’s return to Formula 1 as a full constructor in 2016. Last year the team scored its first podium finishes since the former world championship-winning outfit was was revived. The company previously […]
Tough day shapes race as Peterhansel, Florimo take charge Many believed that Tuesday’s 465 km Dakar loop around Neom would have a hand in shaping the outcome of the 2021 race. It seems they were on the money. Overnight leaders Stephane Peterhansel and Jose Ignacio Cornejo Flormino both consolidated their advantages as Peterhansel and Kevin […]
Focus The city of the future has not yet emerged from the sand and rocks, but the region of Neom can already boast some impressive creations: those of its ancient geological formations. The canyons, cliffs and mountains of brown rock through which the riders and drivers wound during the second half of the special were […]
The South Racing Can-Am Team has enjoyed a superb first half of the 2021 Dakar Rally. All 12 of the South Racing-entered cars are still running after six special stages with Polish driver Aron Domżala currently leading the SSV T4 category and South Racing-built cars winning the Prologue and five of the six timed tests. […]
By Steven Batey The Checkered Flag The Ypres Rally in Belgium will replace Rally GB on the calendar for the 2021 FIA World Rally Championship after official conformation was revealed earlier this week. Ypres, which had set to be a substitute round of the series last year following the COVID-19 pandemic before it was forced to be cancelled due to an increase […]
Haas F1’s promising rookie heads into 2021 with a chance to prove that he is the future of an entire sport. BY FRED SMITH Admittedly, it can be hard to get past Mick Schumacher’s name. Michael Schumacher, seven-time World Champion and the face of Formula 1’s most recent V-12 era, casts a long shadow over his […]
Toyota’s Nasser slashes the gap to leader Peterhansel South African Gazoo Racing Toyota Hilux star, Qatari Nasser Al Attiyah and Belgian co-driver Matthieu Baumel stormed to Attiyah’s 40th-ever and the duo’s fifth Dakar car day win of 2021. They beat Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz and Stephane Peterhansel and Edouard Boulanger’s Mini buggies on Monday’s […]
Al Rajhi, Brabec win on a tough day in the desert Several leading competitors found Sunday’s seventh Dakar 2021 stage tough going as Saudi home hero Yazeed Al Rajhi and Dirk von Zitzewitz’s SA-built Toyota Hilux took the car and Ricky Brabec took the bike wins. Al Rajhi benefited overall leaders Stephane Peterhansel and Edouard […]
Hubert Auriol won the Dakar three times, first on a motorbike (1981 and 1983) and then in a car (1992), and served as race director for almost a decade. He inspired generations of riders and drivers and has been an integral part of the rally throughout its history. The recent updates on the health of […]
Max Verstappen has pledged to “destroy” his new Red Bull colleague Sergio Perez – just as his intention would be with any team-mate. The Dutchman has always been eager to put the advice of his father, Jos, into practice and there is no disputing that ultimately getting the measure of his team-mate is exactly what he […]
Shared from motorsport.com By: Rachit Thukral Overdrive Toyota driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi overcame the X-raid Mini of Stephane Peterhansel to claim a maiden stage win in the Dakar Rally on Sunday. Peterhansel led much of the 453km Stage 7 between Ha’il and Sakaki, the first part of the two-day marathon stage where crews have to do […]
SA cars & crews shine, but welcome a rest after 6 days racing Dakar 2021 reached its midpoint as crews arrived in Ha’il in the Saudi Arabian Desert anticipating a much deserved break following six days of flat out racing across the rocks and dunes. It’s been a dramatic and controversial week for the epic […]
WORDS BY STEPHEN BRUNSDON PHOTOGRAPHY BY RED BULL CONTENT POOL Friday’s sixth stage of the Dakar Rally has been shortened and the start time pushed back by the event organizers, the ASO. The decision comes after a ‘significant number’ of crews struggled with navigation during stage five, most notably defending Dakar winner Carlos Sainz who lost […]
The South African Cross Country Series (SACCS) will again demonstrate its flair for innovation. Following on the success of the double-header at the end of the 2020 COVID shortened season and cramming four events into three months to produce a credible championship motivated the SACCS to introduce a fresh look to the 2021 season. In […]
By: Sergio Lillo Shared from motorsport.com Sebastien Loeb’s hopes of a strong finish on his return to the Dakar Rally received a major blow on Friday when he broke a suspension arm on his Prodrive-built BRX1 contender. Having already been hit by a series of issues in the opening five stages of the rally, including […]
By Paul Hensby Alexander Albon will race in the DTM Series in 2021 alongside his reserve driver role with Red Bull Racing, with the Anglo-Thai driver being joined in the championship by Red Bull Junior Liam Lawson. Twenty-four-year-old Albon, who lost his Red Bull seat to Sergio Pérez for the 2021 Formula 1 season after a lacklustre 2020 season, will race in DTM in […]
Focus It is the kind of recipe in which Saudi Arabia specialises: one containing wadis, valleys and jebels, sprinkled with rocks and served with portions of dunes as well as large plateaux. Such is the setting that the competitors were able to admire between Riyadh and Al Qaisumah… if their eyes were not riveted to […]
Gus Greensmith fronts a youthful M-Sport Ford squad in this year’s FIA World Rally Championship as he tackles his first full season in a Fiesta World Rally Car. The 24-year-old Briton is joined by Teemu Suninen and Adrien Fourmaux, who will share a second Fiesta. Suninen’s schedule is yet to be finalised but the 26-year-old […]
De Villiers takes 17th Dakar stage, but Lategan crashes out South African drivers and cars, Giniel de Villiers’ Gazoo Racing Toyota Hilux and Brian Baragwanath and Taye Perry in a Century CR6 Corvette stole the show on a bittersweet Dakar Day 5 on Thursday, while Kevin Benavides took another controversial bike victory for Honda. The […]
Hat trick of stage wins for Al-Attiyah/Baumel 3rd on stage for Lategan/Cummings Lategan/Cummings move into Top 5 overall RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – Stage 4 of Dakar 2021 saw TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s Nasser Al-Attiyah and navigator Mathieu Baumel record their third consecutive stage win, when they brought their Toyota Hilux home in the fastest time on […]
DAKAR / STAGE REPORT By: Rachit Thukral Here is how motorsport.com saw today;s stage four action on the duel in the deset. Toyota star Nasser Al-Attiyah scored his third consecutive stage victory of Dakar 2021 on Wednesday, narrowly beating overall leader Stephane Peterhansel of X-raid Mini. Al-Attiyah, Peterhansel and their teammates Henk Lategan and Carlos Sainz made […]
Focus Somewhat counterintuitively, Dakar stages can sometimes be long and fast at the same time, especially when it comes to transition stages in which the link section makes up much of the course without detracting from the excitement of the race. A big part of the stage took place on tracks, not tarmacs —a thoughtful […]
SA-built Toyotas ahead as Attiyah takes three stage wins on the trot Nasser Al Attiyah and his Gazoo Racing Toyota Hilux won his third Dakar stage on the trot as he stormed to victory over Mini man Stephane Peterhansel at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. The new hero of the race, Toyota’s double South African […]
The South African Cross Country Series (SACCS) and Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) in consultation with their stakeholders have announced that the 2021 Toyota 1000 Desert Race (TDR 1000) has been called off. SACCS announced, following a recent virtual meeting, that the decision to postpone the 2021 TDR 1000 had been taken due to the uncertainty […]
Focus Altitude has very little effect on the temperature in Saudi Arabia. The riders and crews competed for most of the 403-km special at approximately 1,000 metres above sea level, but the vast plateaux that stretched out to the horizon did not provoke vertigo like the mountains can. However, the wind that continues to gust […]
Nasser wins as Dakar delivers a new star in Henk A new Dakar star was born in the Arabian desert dunes, when South African rookie Henk Lategan delivered a masterful performance to follow teammate Nasser Al Attiyah home to a crushing Toyota Gazoo Hilux 1-2 around Wadi Ad-Dawasir Tuesday. There was drama again on two […]
Stage 2 of Dakar 2021 brought mixed results for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, with Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel winning the 477 km-long test; while Giniel de Villiers and Alex Haro lost significant time due to navigational challenges. Overall, Al-Attiyah/Baumel are now in third place overall, and they trail rally leader, Stephane Peterhansel (MINI), by 9min […]
MotoGP Peter McLaren MotoGP team owner Fausto Gresini no longer in a pharmacological coma but remains sedated and connected to a mechanical respirator. Dr Nicola Cilloni of the Alberto Pizzardi Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit in Bologna has provided the latest update on the condition of MotoGP team boss Fausto Gresini. Following a Covid-19 diagnosis and […]
DAKAR / STAGE REPORT By: Rachit Thukral This is how motorsport.com saw stage2 Nasser Al-Attiyah put Toyota on top in the second stage of the 2021 Dakar Rally on Monday, as Stephane Peterhansel eclipsed X-raid Mini teammate Carlos Sainz to take the overall lead. Three-time event winner Sainz started first on the road in the 457km test from […]
SA cars and crews keep on starring on Dakar Day 2 Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Nasser Al Attiyah came from behind to deliver an ultimately crushing Dakar Day 2 victory aboard his proudly South African Hilux. He beat Mini buggy duo Stephane Peterhansel and Carlos Sainz to the win on the long and sandy run from […]
By Nick Sutherland Lewis Hamilton has certainly had a busy few months. The 35-year-old claimed his fourth-consecutive F1 Drivers’ Championship in 2020 and was selected as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in December. Hamilton’s biggest accomplishment of recent times, though, is being awarded a knighthood in The Queen’s 2021 New Year’s Honours List. One […]