STAT OF THE DAY: 11’39’’
The trend predicted by observers and indeed the leading drivers themselves before the start of the race is proving to be accurate: the competition is very tight in the Ultimate class. At the end of stage 3, the gap between general rankings leader Mitch Guthrie and 10th-placed Nasser Al Attiyah is 11’39’’, which is significantly smaller than in previous years.
The amplitude of the Top 10 on the Dakar’s Saudi editions after 3 stages:
2025: Henk Lategan (1st) > 35’04’’ > Seth Quintero (10th)
2024: Yazeed Al Rajhi > 26’12’’ > Vaidotas Zala
2023: Nasser Al Attiyah > 35’10’’ > Martin Prokop
2022: Nasser Al Attiyah > 1:08’ > Orlando Terranova
2021: Stéphane Peterhansel > 56’30’’ > Martin Prokop
2020: Carlos Sainz > 59’59’’ > Vaidotas Zala
The observation is even more convincing when extending the amplitude to the Top 20, with a gap of 30’38’’ today between Guthrie and Marek Goczal, whereas it has never been less than one hour at this stage of the race in the last six editions:
2025: Henk Lategan (1st) > 2:18’ > Giniel de Villiers (20th)
2024: Yazeed Al Rajhi > 1:01’ > Laia Sanz
2023: Nasser Al Attiyah > 1:15’ > Tom Coronel
2022: Nasser Al Attiyah > 1:56’ > Tom Coronel
2021: Stéphane Peterhansel > 1:29’ > Brian Baragwanath
2020: Carlos Sainz > 1:46’ > Alexander Dorosinskiy
