Anyone who assumed the Dakar Rally had become too easy since leaving its spiritual home in Africa was taken aback by the first few days of the 2025 event in Saudi Arabia. The strategic decision to place the 48-hour stage near the very beginning caused havoc, taking out several heavyweights including four-time champion Carlos Sainz Sr (Ford) and WRC legend Sebastien Loeb (Dacia) - who exited in the next stage after the Chrono.
Dakar has always been ruthless to its competitors but the start of its 47th edition has been particularly brutal. Most of the drivers this year had already experienced a two-day, 48-hour stage on its debut in 2024, but organiser ASO had raised the stakes this time around.
