Loeb boosts Dakar bid with historic stage victory for BRX
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Sebastien Loeb underlined his challenge for a first Dakar Rally triumph yesterday as he delivered an historic stage victory for the Bahrain Raid Xtreme (BRX) in Saudi Arabia.
The nine-time World Rally Champion, partnered by Fabian Lurquin in one of the three BRX Prodrive Hunters, was fastest on the 338-km stage from Hail to Al Artawiya by three mins 28 seconds from overnight leader Nasser Al Attiyah. The result saw Loeb cut Al Attiyah’s advantage alongside Matthieu Baumel in a Toyota Hilux to nine minutes 16 seconds ahead of today’s 255-km special from Al Artawiya to Al Qaysumah.
The first stage win for the BRX Prodrive Hunter in the Dakar came after three hours 25 minutes of hard driving through the northern part of Saudi Arabia.
It is also the very first Dakar stage victory by a car using sustainable fuel, as the Hunter runs on Prodrive EcoPower made from agricultural waste that reduces CO2 emissions by 80 per cent.
Loeb’s BRX teammates Nani Roma and Alex Haro further confirmed the pace of the Hunter with a fifth place on the stage for the all-Spanish crew as competitors tackled the first big dunes of the 44th Dakar.
Orlando Terranova with Dani Oliveras in the third BRX car came home in 13th position to maintain their overall top 10 place in the world’s largest and most demanding motorsport event, which covers 8,375 km over two weeks.
Loeb completed the stage and said: “It was a real battle as Nasser was pushing very hard over the sand as he was opening the stage and really fast. We pushed hard like we were on a WRC rally for 340km, so it was exciting and really tough, but we have a fantastic result at the end.
“Towards the end of the stage, Nasser and I were driving together through the dunes, but then there were a lot of stones. I tried to lead so I could pick the line and try to avoid a puncture so we could finish the stage well, as yesterday I had two flats. “It was not such a big question of navigation today as the line was really clear to see for Fabian. It’s a fantastic result for BRX and proof of the benefits of sustainable fuel for such long-distance events.
After an enormous amount of work by so many people over so many months, we are proud to take this first stage with for the team.” BRX team principal Gus Beteli said: “A great day with the first stage win for BRX thanks to Seb and Fabian having such great pace all the way through the difficult 338 kms “It’s quite a big task to beat Nasser in these types of dunes.
We’re very happy to have had no major problems. which is the main thing, but we’re well aware we still have 11 days to go.”
BRX saves tonnes of CO2 emissions
BRX is the first top Dakar team to run on next generation advanced sustainable fuel. BRX is the first top Dakar team to run on next generation advanced sustainable fuel.
On yesterday ’s 333-km stage, the team’s three Prodrive Hunter cars saved over two tonnes of CO2 emissions by running the Prodrive EcoPower sustainable fuel that is created from agricultural waste material.
It reduces carbon emissions by 80% compared to petrol. By using the fuel on the world’s most demanding motor race, BRX aims to demonstrate that such fuels can be used as an alternative to petrol and diesel in road transport, and immediately make a contribution to fighting climate change.
New Dakar regulations will ensure both cars and the event become carbon neutral. BRX is leading the way with its sustainable fuel initiative, with plans to develop hybrid technologies and efuels using carbon capture, as well as hydrogen fuel cells.
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