Nasser Al-Attiyah Closing in on Sixth Dakar Rally Victory

Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar is poised to claim his sixth Dakar Rally title after securing victory in the 12th stage. He now leads by 15 minutes with only 105km left. Ari Vatanen and Stephane Peterhansel's record of 50 stage wins is matched. The rally concludes in Yanbu on Saturday.

Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah is on the verge of his sixth Dakar Rally title, having clinched victory in the penultimate stage in the Saudi desert. The Dacia driver now holds a 15-minute advantage with only 105km remaining in the competition.

This stage victory marks Al-Attiyah's 50th career win, aligning him with the record held by Ari Vatanen and Stephane Peterhansel in the car category. The rally is set to conclude on Saturday in Yanbu after a grueling 8,000km journey across two weeks.

In the motorcycle division, American Ricky Brabec regained the lead following a strategic move on Thursday. As the race nears its end, Al-Attiyah emphasizes the need for caution and focus to secure his triumph. Meanwhile, teammate efforts and strategic plays continue to unfold among the competitors.

(With inputs from agencies.)