Dakar 2024 Stage 7: Sébastien Loeb Wins Again and Closes in on First Place

After the well-deserved rest day in the 2024 Dakar Rally, the engines roared back to life with renewed intensity. Stage 7, a challenge of 483 timed kilometers plus 390 liaison, marked the beginning of the last week in this race, considered the most demanding in the world.

Seth Quintero opened the day with an impressive speed, surpassing Guerlain Chicherit by half a minute. But the attention was elsewhere: the battle between Carlos Sainz, the classification leader, and his persistent pursuer, Sébastien Loeb. Loeb cut four seconds at the first checkpoint, sending a clear message: the fight for the lead was far from over.

The competition suffered another withdrawal when Mattias Ekstrom, another strong competitor, was forced to retire due to suspension problems in his RS Q e-tron at kilometer 47. This setback, combined with the abandonment of the legend Nani Roma at kilometer 24, significantly altered the standings.

As the stage progressed, Loeb, the nine-time WRC champion, relentlessly narrowed the gap with Sainz. At kilometer 173, the difference was palpable, with Sainz in the tenth position and Loeb rising to fifth place.
Aware of the need to go further, Loeb not only surpassed his closest rivals but also positioned himself in a dominant position, ascending to the top of the standings. His ability to handle both the terrain and the rally pressure demonstrated why he is a prominent figure in this sport.

By reaching kilometer 373, Loeb had already created a significant gap, surpassing his competitors by over two minutes. And at the end of the stage, his victory was confirmed, beating Sainz by more than ten and a half minutes. This victory was not only a triumph in the stage but also a significant step towards the top of the overall standings.