P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Sweden’s Mattias Ekström was victorious in his Audi on the opening prologue of the 46th Dakar Rally, which is running for the fifth time in the Saudi Arabian desert. The opening 27km/16.8-mile loop…
Mattias Ekström from Sweden emerged as the winner in his Audi on the opening prologue of the 46th Dakar Rally, held in Saudi Arabia. The 27km/16.8-mile loop showcased a mix of sandy and rocky terrain, providing a taste of what the drivers can expect during the 7,891km/4903-mile journey that runs until January 19. American driver Seth Quintero impressed with the second-best time of the day for Toyota, while Sebastien Loeb claimed third place. Brazilian brothers Marcos and Cristian Baumgart also made a strong start. However, reigning champion Nasser Al Attiyah faced a rocky start after making a navigation mistake, finishing 12th. In the bikes category, Tosha Schareina claimed first place, followed by Daniel Sanders and Ross Branch. Unfortunately, American rider Skyler Howes experienced a difficult start, finishing 42nd after getting lost in the canyons of AlUla.
