YANBU, Saudi Arabia — He is one of those masters of their art who are discrete but have no equal when it comes to accomplishing their feats with panache.
In order to arrive in Yanbu with the status of virtually unbeatable winner, Nasser Al Attiyah went all-out when a more measured approach would have been perfectly adequate. After being the 17th driver to start the special, the overall rankings leader (with an advantage of 8’ over Nani Roma) knew that he had a chance to improve his statistics.
On completion of the 409 kilometers through the rocks and stones, the Qatari let his driving skill do the talking to add another stage victory to his roll of honor, no less than his 50th.
In very different circumstances, Al Attiyah has joined Ari Vatanen and Stéphane Peterhansel as joint record holders for stage wins in the car category and, in his Dacia Sandrider, is now heading for a sixth overall triumph, which is just 105 kilometers away. Before this final parade (and why not a 51st stage win to surpass the other two giants?), he has now distanced Nani Roma’s Ford Raptor by 15’02’’, while the final occupant of the third step on the podium will be decided tomorrow between the two brands that have dominated the very end to the rally.
Sébastien Loeb has enjoyed a second week of the rally that was more constructive than the first, to climb yesterday evening into a fragile third place, in light of Mattias Ekstrom’s skill when he decides to go on the offensive.
And that is exactly what he did this morning! The Swede achieved the day’s 4th best time (behind Al Attiyah, Guthrie and Price) and especially gained 3’24’’ over his rival. Now Ekstrom finds himself in 3rd place at the wheel of his Ford Raptor but the battle is far from over. The Swedish driver will have to hang on during 105 km to his 29-second lead, while the French driver, who has ne
