Leitgan finished the 487-kilometer course in four hours, 51 minutes and 54 seconds, including a two-minute penalty for speeding. Teammate and compatriot Guy David Botterill lost one minute and 47 seconds to him, while Frenchman Mathieu Serradori (“Century”) was more than four minutes behind.
Of Leitgan’s closest competitors, Saudi Arabian driver Yazeed Al-Raji (“Overdrive”) was sixth, more than five minutes behind. The two are separated by five minutes and 41 seconds in the overall standings, but the Swedish Matias Ekström (Ford M-Sport) is almost 29 minutes behind.
In the motorcycle competition, the Argentinean Luciano Benavides (Red Bull KTM) was the fastest, finishing in four hours, 50 minutes and 46 seconds. Frenchman Adrien van Beveren (Monster Energy Honda) lost two minutes and eight seconds, who beat Spanish teammate Tosha Scarein by six seconds. Australian Daniel Sanders (“Red Bull KTM”), who is in the leading position of the general standings, was almost seven minutes behind.
Sanders has also maintained a safe lead, more than 11 minutes behind Skareina and another ten minutes slower is van Beveren.
The “Dakar” rally raid will take place for the 47th time. Last year, the Spanish Carlos Sainz senior won the car class, but the American Ricky Brabek remained unbeaten in the motorcycle class.
Rally Raid took place in Africa 29 times from 1979 to 2007. In 2008, it was canceled due to security reasons, but the following year it debuted in South America.