Dakar 2023 – Stage 6: Al-Attiyah takes off in the overall standings, disaster for Audi
Nightmare day for the brand with the rings, as two of its cars were involved in accidents on this sixth stage, including the one driven by Stéphane Peterhansel who had to retire.
The Dakar is a merciless challenge. Whether for an amateur, a professional, or a multiple winner, the world’s greatest rally-raid doesn’t show favoritism to anyone. This 2023 edition is the perfect example. After Loeb, Sainz, and Chicherit, it is Stéphane Peterhansel and his co-pilot Edouard Boulanger who have fallen under the rally-raid gods’ spell.
In a stage once again shortened (358 kms instead of 466) and whose organizers were forced to modify the route due to the weather, it was Nasser Al-Attiyah who clocked the best time for the third time in this edition. The Qatari can now relax. The troubles encountered by his main rivals enable him to enjoy a comfortable lead of over an hour in the overall standings over his new runner-up, South African Henk Lategan.
While he was going at a fast pace, Stéphane Peterhansel had an accident shortly after kilometer 200. Second overall this morning, the French driver was pushing hard to catch up to Al-Attiyah when his Audi stopped after a dune. Although the driver escaped without injury, his teammate Edouard Boulanger had to be transported to the hospital due to back pain. A big disappointment for the French duo in the Audi number 204, who represented the biggest threat against Al-Attiyah’s Toyota. In 34 participations, this is only the sixth retirement for Monsieur Dakar, and the fourth in cars.
A few minutes after this stroke of fate, it was another Audi, that of Carlos Sainz, which also had an accident, just a few meters from his teammate’s. Although the Spanish crew was able to continue, their delay amounted to hours, while the three-time winner of the race still had hopes of a final podium.
On his side, Sébastien Loeb keeps going. Although lagging behind in the overall standings, he can still hope to climb into the Top 3 if fate doesn’t once again turn against his BRX. A fate that the solid leader of this race has been spared so far. However, the duo Al-Attiyah/Baumel must still be careful as the road is still very long until the finish line and the traps are increasingly numerous.
Ranking Stage 6
| Concurrents | Teams | Times / Gaps | |
| 1 | Al-Attiyah / Baumel | Toyota Gazoo Racing | 03:13:12 |
| 2 | Loeb / Lurquin | Bahraïn Raid Xtreme | +00:03:29 |
| 3 | Lategan / Cummings | Toyota Gazoo Racing | +00:08:52 |
| 4 | Chicherit / Winocq | GCK Motorsport | +00:09:12 |
| 5 | Zala / Fiuza | Teltonika Racing | +00:10:33 |
Overall ranking
| Concurrents | Teams | Times / Gaps | |
| 1 | Al-Attiyah / Baumel | Toyota Gazoo Racing | 24:00:48 |
| 2 | Lategan / Cummings | Toyota Gazoo Racing | +01:06:50 |
| 3 | Moraes / Gottschalk | Overdrive Racing | +01:13:19 |
| 4 | De Villiers / Murphy | Toyota Gazoo Racing | +01:44:38 |
| 5 | Ekström / Bergkvist | Team Audi Sport | +01:46:55 |
