Dakar Classic 2023
Key points
Ø The riders, drivers and crews have reached the rest day in Riyadh after eight demanding stages disrupted by difficult weather conditions, which gave rise to surprises in almost all of the categories. Between changes to the routes and torrential rain, the competitors have covered three thousand kilometres against the clock (FIM: 2794 km / FIA: 3092 km). They still have 1214 km over which to do battle before the finish in Dammam, but before then they will have the formidable task of tackling the dunes in the Empty Quarter.
CLASSIC: LONG LIVE SPAIN
Technical scrutineering already set the tone for this third edition of the Dakar Classic. The romanticism of previous editions with competitors in vehicles sometimes as barely prepared as those of the first years of the Paris-Dakar are long gone. The European specialists of regularity have invested Saudi Arabia and the top echelons of the rankings. The Spaniards are so far dominating the Italians and Belgians after eight stages. Juan Morena and his wife Lidia Ruba on the one hand and Carlos Santaolalla and Aran Sol I Juanola on the other hand are comfortably installed in the lead in the general rankings, with a significant lead for the couple driving Toyota HDJ 80 number 778. Belgians Erik Qvick and Jean-Marie Lurquin as well as their countrymen Dirk Van Rompuy and Christiaan Michel Goris are doing their best to resist and can even hope to regain ground on the Catalan crew. Title holders Serge Mogno and Florent Drulhon occupy 7th position, with triple the amount of points as the leaders. The French performed metronomically last year, but do not seem able to follow the pace set by the Iberians: competitiveness has well and truly made its way into the ranks of the Dakar Classic.
