Al-Attiyah requires adjustments to Dakar layout after “dull” opening degree

Nasser Al-Attiyah believes the Dakar Rally will have to exchange its layout after discovering Saturday’s opening degree “dull” because of the will of prioritising technique over effects.

The 2025 version started with a difficult and “natural” 431km take a look at round Bisha in Saudi Arabia, however a number of drivers elected to compromise their consequence to safe a greater beginning place for the 48-hour marathon degree that covers Sunday and Monday.

5-time Dakar winner Al-Attiyah even stopped within the desolate tract for just about 10 mins to permit different drivers to cross him, shedding from tenth to twenty first position within the ultimate stretch of the day.

It way he’s going to now not open the gravel roads for his competitors on Sunday and can benefit from the tracks laid out via different drivers.

However, whilst this must theoretically put the brand new Dacia recruit in a robust place, the Qatari printed he was once now not keen on the layout and the have an effect on it had at the pageant.

“We need to exchange the rule of thumb as a result of if you happen to push and win, you could have a possibility to win, it is a just right concept,” stated Al-Attiyah. 

“I feel other folks would perceive as a result of lately isn’t actually amusing, we simply pressure simple, and it’s dull, there is not any pageant, I am hoping the rule of thumb can exchange”.

The ones ideas have been echoed via Nani Roma. The Ford driving force completed seventeenth after struggling mechanical issues and steered that the Level 1 winner must get started the 48-hour take a look at from closing.

This, he believes, would have incentivised drivers to regard Saturday’s particular as some other degree and pass out for the highest spot.

“It must be modified,” Roma stated. “Whoever wins, let the Final get started closing, I do not perceive why the FIA can not realize it, we proposed it to them and they did not perceive why.

“I stated ‘as a result of there are people who find themselves going to prevent, others who would possibly cheat, others who would possibly name to look how they’re doing…why do not we’ve got the person who wins pass out closing’?

“That is racing and the person who wins must have the advantage of victory. I am hoping they modify it, the FIA has to grasp why.”

#227 Ford M-Recreation Ford: Nani Roma, Alex Haro

Photograph via: Purple Bull Content material Pool

“On this circus, we’re the clowns,” he added, “and if all of us have the similar concept, it’s because we’re proper, however that is it now.”

Dakar offered the so-called chrono degree for the primary time in 2024, changing the former marathon particular. On the other hand, in 2025, its period has been greater to nearly a 1,000km, whilst it has additionally been moved from the second one week of the rally to the very starting of the development.

This supposed that Prologue and Saturday’s opening take a look at successfully served as preparation for the made over 48-hour degree.

Explaining his technique for the day in mild of the adjustments, Al-Attiyah stated: “The degree was once lengthy, numerous navigation, due to [co-driver] Edouard [Boulanger], as a result of he did just right navigation. 

“Our navigation pill broke and we did about 300 kilometres with just one, we attempted to control and practice the competition, however within the closing 10 kilometres we stopped for 10 mins, simply to have a smash [laughs], in order to not repeat closing yr’s revel in [where he suffered a big setback in Stage 1].”

A number of different drivers additionally bogged down within the run from the penultimate checkpoint, together with Ford driving force Carlos Sainz Sr who completed 7th however categorized 8th after a 10s penalty for exceeding the rate restrict

#225 Ford M-Recreation Ford: Carlos Sainz, Lucas Cruz

Photograph via: Purple Bull Content material Pool

Al-Attiyah trails Sainz via round 10 mins and sits an extra 3 mins adrift of rally chief Seth Quintero (Toyota).

The five-time winner admitted that it is going to now not be till the second one a part of the marathon degree that he closes the space to the frontrunners within the Final magnificence.

“Now we’re in twenty first place, and best 10 mins [actually 13] at the back of the primary position,” he stated.

“The next day must be a large assault for the entire 48 hours to a minimum of have a great time for the fourth degree in Bisha. It would possibly not be simple to catch as much as 21 automobiles, you can catch as much as 10 automobiles, however you continue to have 10 in entrance of you, as a result of we are not going loopy.

“We need to arrange the primary phase till we sleep, and on the second one day we’re going to see if we’ve got like 100, 150 or 200 kilometres, and we’re going to make a decision to not drive [it].

“Sure, we misplaced best seven mins [actually 10] to Carlos, however Carlos begins 7th and I get started additional again, we’re separated via greater than twenty mins or so [on the road]. I am proud of the location, and we want to make the auto paintings rather well, we want to arrange day after today.”