Dakar Rally 2023 9 2023-01-10 2023-01-10 https://r2.thesportsdb.com/images/media/event/thumb/te2sb11673712626.jpg https://r2.thesportsdb.com/images/media/event/poster/9ekk6w1673694500.jpg The day that racing resumed also coincided with a new geographical direction. The Dakar competitors are set to tackle the southeast quarter of Saudi Arabia, with the dunes of the Empty Quarter in their sights, which are likely to be determining in the outcome of the 2023 edition. In the meantime, the riders, drivers and crews had not totally left behind them the zone recently drenched by rain but did battle among dunes that were more accessible … though only if they showed them the necessary respect! Two major players who were caught out were Joan Barreda and Carlos Sainz, both injured, but fortunately not seriously, at the very start of the stage. For the remaining fighters, it was necessary to deal with complex navigation choices and steering between wadis that were sometimes abundantly filled. This sort of terrain was perfectly suited to Luciano Benavides in the bike race and Sébastien Loeb, the two quickest men over the 359 km of the day’s special. 1669065