The FIA has defended its decision to prevent Carlos Sainz Sr and Sebastien Loeb from completing the 2025 Dakar Rally after both sustained roll cage damage to their cars.
Two of the most high-profile drivers in this year’s Ultimate field were thrown out following separate rollovers in the opening three stages of the event. Although both Sainz Sr and Loeb were able to recover from their crashes and reach the finish line, technical inspections by the FIA afterwards deemed that their cars were no longer safe to continue. In both cases, damage to the roll cage, including deformation, was the culprit.
