A 13-kilometre prologue opened the 45th edition of the Dakar Rallywhich is being run in the deserts of Saudi Arabia for the fourth time, this year with the participation of the Ecuadorians Sebastián Guayasamín and Brad Salazar.
The Dakar caravan covered a short section that allowed to determine the starting position for the first day, in the first special this Sundaya journey that will cover a total of 603 kilometers.
45th edition of the Dakar Rally is staged in the dunes of Saudi Arabia
In the category of the T4 SSVthe pilot Guayasamin and Argentine navigator Ricardo Torlaschi (South Racing) were located ranked 22, to 40 seconds of the Lithuanian Rokas Baciuska (Red Bull), winner of the day in his category.
“We wanted to have a good stage so that we can start tomorrow (Sunday). Always happy to carry the flag of Ecuador in the elite of motorsport. The public was not present at the presentation due to logistical issues, but the environment, the landscape, made this first stage very special”, commented the driver from the capital, who with this edition celebrates his ninth participation in the rally raid The world’s toughest motor.
For his part, Salazar, absolute rookie on the Dakarwho is accompanied by the Argentine Eugenio Arrieta (FN Speed Team), ranked 44th in the T3 light prototypes category1 minute 5 seconds behind the Spanish Cristina Gutiérrez (Red Bull), winner of the prologue.
In other modalities and categories, the Swede Mattias Ekstrom gave the first victory to the Audi hybrid car by winning the prologue, in his seventh Dakar, 10 seconds ahead of Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota), who began his title defense with fourth place on the opening day.
on motorcyclesthe Australian Toby Price (KTM) was the winner of the day, followed by his compatriot Daniel Sanders (GasGas), winner of two stages in the previous edition. The defending champion, the British Sam Sunderland (GasGas), began his title defense with tenth position. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
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