Showdown In Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's Dammam had a remarkable success with Dakar 2023. On two wheels, South Africans also showed Toby Price to win the bike race. In the rookie bike category, South African racer Michael Docherty triumphed, while fellow countryman and colleague  won the no-service Malle Moto Original bike category.

South African Starrers

Al Attiyah and Baumel, the winners, had another flawless run to capture their third victory in a Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux. Their uncanny speed and consistency are unquestionably enhanced by their year-round competition in the R2R global championship and Toyota Gazoo Racing's steady advancement in the South African championship.

Red Lined

Red-Lined, a South African manufacturer of rally raid vehicles, dominated the amateur division as Schröder and Bland defeated Bell and Schutte to claim the T1.1 victory.  It's obvious that Red-Lined Motorsport was successful in fulfilling the Dakar fantasies of its gallant crews.

Car Racing Episode

The petrol-electric Audi of Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz had a quick start and won the prologue and day 1,  while Attiyah won Day 2. Day 3 was won by Chicherit's Prodrive despite Al Attiyah taking an early lead that he would never give up.

After Loeb came back to win on Day 4, Al Attiyah increased his lead by winning twice on both 5th and 6th day.

Sebastien Loeb was the main focus of Week 2. In his tireless pursuit, he set a record by winning six consecutive stages, finished first in a Prodrive 1-2-3 on Tuesday and climbed up to second on Friday . Sainz's Audi, Zala's Prodrive, Lionel Baud's Toyota, and Simon Vitse's MD were also totaled in the second Week.

Brilliant Bike Racing Championship

In the first seven days of the cycle race, seven different winners were announced. Price won the opening race, Day 1 on Ricky Brabec's Honda, and Day 2 on Mason Klein's KTM. Days 3, 4, 5, and 6 were won by others while the lead fluctuate frequently.

Ross Branch won Day 8 after Day 7 was postponed, with Klein leading Howes by 30 seconds altogether. As Kevin Benavides held the overall lead, Docherty held the lead among rookies, and Moore held the lead in the Malle Moto race, Luciano Benavides won on Tuesday and Branch won on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Luciano once more prevailed by 29 seconds.From Docherty, Ignacio Cornejo's Honda took first place on Friday, and Kevin Benavides took first place on Saturday.