P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Major incidents for two big hitters opened the 2025 Dakar Rally up for two Toyota drivers to battle it out for victory. Here’s the story of how it unfolded, from early exits for Carlos Sainz Sr and Sebastien Loeb, to Yazeed Al-Rajhi’s eventual triumph
The Dakar Rally in 2020 moved from South America to Saudi Arabia, but it took until 2025 for new competitors to emerge as winners in the Cars and Bikes classes. The 2025 Dakar had the second-closest finish in history, with notable absences like Stephane Peterhansel, who took a sabbatical, and Carlos Sainz Sr., who retired early due to a rollover. Sebastien Loeb was controversially excluded after his own crash, despite being a victory contender for new manufacturer Dacia alongside Nasser Al-Attiyah. Toyota dominated the 2025 Dakar with stage wins from various drivers, leading to a showdown between Henk Lategan and Yazeed Al-Rajhi, with Lategan ultimately losing the lead due to lack of experience on the dunes.
