Dakar 2023 – Stage 3: Guerlain Chicherit wins a shortened special stage
Reduced due to challenging weather conditions, the third stage of the Dakar benefited the French driver from the GCK team, while Carlos Sainz is the big loser of the day.
This Dakar 2023 definitely has a lot of surprises in store for those who dared to face it. Following Sébastien Loeb’s major breakdown, which has almost cost him any chance of final victory, another favorite was disappointed today in the stage leading the competitors from Al-Ula to Ha’il.
Stopped for a long time at kilometer 213 due to a problem with the left rear wheel of his Audi, Carlos Sainz has lost valuable time and is now significantly behind in the overall standings. Finishing thirteenth in the stage, 20 minutes behind the day’s winner, Nasser Al-Attiyah has indeed taken the lead in the rally with a comfortable cushion over his closest pursuer, Saudi Arabian driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi.
Both victims of multiple punctures during the second stage yesterday, Sébastien Loeb and Guerlain Chicherit’s Hunter 4x4s experienced different fortunes this time around. While the Alsatian driver once again lost time on the increasingly rocky tracks, his compatriot won the shortened 70-kilometer special stage due to difficult weather conditions. The former freeride ski world champion thus secures his first stage victory in the Dakar Rally since the 2013 edition.
In the fight for victory at the start of the day, Stéphane Peterhansel, along with Al-Attiyah, is the other big winner of the day. Thanks to his fourth place on this stage, Mr. Dakar climbs onto the general podium behind the Qatari’s Toyota and Al-Rajhi’s.
Competitors will now settle their bags for two days at the Ha’il bivouac for two stages that will highlight navigation and the first long stretches of sand dunes.
Ranking Stage 3
| Concurrents | Team | Times / Gaps | |
| 1 | Chicherit / Winocq | GCK Motorsport | 03:22:57 |
| 2 | Lategan / Cummings | Toyota Gazoo Racing | +00:03:26 |
| 3 | Terranova / Haro Bravo | Bahraïn Raid Xtreme | +00:05:04 |
| 4 | Peterhansel / Boulanger | Team Audi Sport | +00:07:47 |
| 5 | Al Rajhi / Von Zitzewitz | Overdrive Racing | +00:08:31 |
Overall ranking
| Concurrents | Team | Times / Gaps | |
| 1 | Al-Attiyah / Baumel | Toyota Gazoo Racing | 12:20:33 |
| 2 | Al Rajhi / Von Zitzewitz | Overdrive Racing | +00:13:20 |
| 3 | Peterhansel / Boulanger | Team Audi Sport | +00:20:45 |
| 4 | Vitse / Lefebvre | MD Rally | +00:24:53 |
| 5 | Baragwawath / Cremer | Century Racing Factory Team | +00:26:16 |
