The Sainz family has revolutionized the Dakar: the visit of the son and the huge departure of the father

Spaniard Carlos Sainz was the great protagonist of the day during the first stage of the Dakar 2023 in Saudi Arabia. Sportingly, the Audi driver dominated the day and leads the overall standings for cars.

But regardless of performance Bullfighter, The Dakar world was revolutionized with the visit of the Spaniard’s son, Carlos Sainz Jr, Ferrari driver, who closely followed his father’s performance.

The driver of the prancing Horse He arrived with the November One helicopter, from the organization of the race, accompanied by his mother and his fiancée. As if he were incognito, he approached the Audi that his father drives to find out in detail the start of a special stage on the Dakar.

After the departure and the putting into action of the cars, Sainz Jr followed the alternatives of the special stage on board the helicopter.

“I’m very happy that my family came and secondly that I just got a stage win”commented a clarion Carlos Sainz, arriving at the Sea Camp, on the shores of the Red Sea, in western Saudi Arabia.

“Carlos (Junior) was once in a World Rally race, but he was very young”, Sainz clarified after winning the stage, adding: “However, stay focused on the race, it’s very long by the way.”

Subsequently, Sainz Jr arrived at the camp, and there he spoke to the Spanish-speaking press, although he clarified that by contract he could not allude to Formula 1.

“There’s a magical atmosphere, because there’s a lot of competition but you can see there’s a lot of camaraderie, everyone helping each other. I like the place, I don’t rule out running a Dakar one day”indicated the Ferrari driver.

Sainz Jr commented on his Saudi air experience: “When the helicopter went up I thought it had brought my father bad luck, because I saw that he had a puncture, but I was surprised that they changed it in a very short time (two minutes).”.

And he underlined that this time there are the conditions to be able to see his father in action: “I have always taken the holidays in the first week of January, but this year I have booked the first week to accompany my father. I’m staying until January 4″.

From the cleanliness and the pits that almost look like Formula 1 operating rooms, to the wild style of the Dakar. The Sainz, father and son, absolute protagonists in starting Ali in the desert of Saudi Arabia.

Facing the dominance of Sainz at the start of the competition, the Frenchman Sebastien Loeb (Prodrive) is still second, 10 seconds behind the Spanish leader. Mendoza’s Orly Terranova finished sixth in the stage and remains fifth overall, while his co-provinces Sebastián Halpern is 23rd and Juan Cruz Yacopini, 32nd. The Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota), winner of the 2022 edition, is eighth, more than 7 minutes behind the leader

The second stage will take place on Monday over a distance of 590 kilometres, in the direction of Alula, with 431 kilometers of special stage.

Manu Andujar, the first Argentine winner

The pilot of the city of Lobos in Buenos Aires Manuel Andujar won the quads’ first stage at the 2023 Dakar Rally, which took place in Yanbu in western Saudi Arabia. The Argentinian driver maintained a competitive pace and competed right up to the last meter with the Frenchman Alexandre Giraud, who remains at the top of the general classification.

After the first stage, Andujar is only 21 seconds behind the French leader. “It was a complex stage, but I didn’t have any problems. I kept the established pace, even if I saw that Giraud was also marching with the same intensity. I know very well that the Dakar will be like this”indicated Andujar a clarion.

Excellent performance by Francisco Moreno from Mendoza, third in the stage, and Pablo Copetti, fourth.

on motorcycles, Salta’s Kevin Benavides (KTM) finished second on the stage and continues to escort Ricky Brabec (Honda) in the overall standings. “I had a good day. It took me a while to find Sam (Sunderland) lying down but Mattias Walkner was already helping him. I was conscious and the helicopter was coming so we continued”Kevin explained.

Sunderland, one of the favorites to win and reigning Dakar 2022 champion, crashed and broke his left collarbone, for which he was admitted to a hospital in the city of Yanbu. Luciano Benavides remains in 14th place, Franco Caimi, 18th, and Diego Llanos, 27th.

Yangbu, Saudi Arabia. Special for Clarion.