2024 Dakar Rally begins: Who won the race?
The opening stage of the 2024 Dakar Rally, held in Saudi Arabia, was won by Swedish driver Mattias Ekström in the car category and Spanish rider Tosha Schareina in the motorcycle class.
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The 46th Dakar Rally, held in Saudi Arabia, began with a 27-kilometer prologue stage in the city of Al Ula. In the car category, Ekström from the Audi team took first place with a time of 16 minutes and 30 seconds.
Seth Quintero finished 2nd, 23 seconds behind the Swedish driver, while Frenchman Sebastien Loeb finished 3rd, 38 seconds behind the leader.
In the motorcycle category, Tosha Schareina from the Monster Energy Honda team reached first place in the prologue stage, finishing in 17 minutes and 35 seconds.
The Spanish rider was followed by Daniel Sanders, who crossed the finish line 12 seconds later, and Ross Branch, who finished 19 seconds behind.
The 2017 and 2022 champion Sam Sunderland finished the prologue in 6th place, while last year's champion, Argentine Kevin Benavides, finished 9th.
The first stage of the Dakar Rally will be held tomorrow on a 414-kilometer track between the cities of Al Ula and Al Henakiyah. The 2024 Dakar Rally will conclude on January 19 in the city of Yanbu.