Dakar Rally gets underway in Saudi Arabia
Defending champion Nasser Al-Attiyah suffered late punctures as he came fourth
JEDDAH (Reuters) - The Dakar Rally got underway in Saudi Arabia on Sunday (January 5) with a 319km timed special from Jeddah to Al Wajd as Agrorodeo’s Lithuanian driver Vaidotas Zala claimed a shock stage one victory in the cars category.
Competing in his fifth Dakar Rally and finishing 12th last year, Zala and his co-driver Saulius Jurgelenas clocked 3h19m04s, 2m14s ahead of seven-time winner Stephane Peterhansel.
Defending champion Nasser Al-Attiyah suffered late punctures as he came fourth, while two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso, making his Dakar debut, ended 11th, 15m27s off the leading time.
On the bikes, Toby Price of Red Bull KTM Factory Team, began the defence of his title with an opening stage victory, finishing ahead of Monster Energy Honda Team 2020’s Ricky Brabec and fellow KTM rider Matthias Walkner.
