Last year, Yazeed Al-Rajhi made history by becoming the first Saudi driver to win the Dakar Rally in the car category. Together with navigator Timo Gottschalk, the pair began the defence of their title on 3 January in Yanbu but, after just four stages, that mission has come to an early end.
During the first part of the marathon stage, which started in Al-Ula, Al-Rajhi failed to reach the bivouac. After 234 km, he withdrew from the stage and, with that, from the rally. Initially, the Dakar organisers reported that technical problems cause the exit, but this doesn't tell the full story.
