BISHA, Saudi Arabia — Though rally aficionados have become accustomed to their spectacular performances, today’s accomplishment stands out as the best of their careers on the Dakar.
Eryk Goczal impressed on his debut in 2023, winning four stages and the SSV category at the tender age of 18 years old. This year, he secured his first stage victory on his debut in the Ultimate class. The young Polish man is never short of predictions regarding his family’s destiny in the Dakar rankings.
Today, his father was not there to accompany him but his uncle Michal clocked the second fastest time on the special.
The overall rankings were completely shaken up on completion of stage 9, with the resulting gaps not amounting to much at all. Nani Roma returned to the top spot, which he had not held since his triumph in 2014.
However, a battle of nerves is brewing in the minds of the three most experienced drivers in the elite group. Three former winners make up the podium, as the Catalan prepares to take on his teammate from Madrid Carlos Sainz, who is 57 seconds behind him, in a ‘Clasico’.
Also, with just four stages to go, it is definitely not inconceivable for Nasser Al Attiyah, dethroned from the top of the pile but only 1’10’’ behind the new leader, to make a comeback in his Dacia Sandrider tomorrow.
The race hierarchy remains as open as ever so close to the rally’s finale. However, while they are not completely out of the running, two of the day’s losers can be clearly identified. Henk Lategan owes his survival in the top four (occupying 4th place, 6’13’’ behind) to the pit stop that was set up after 183 km, where he was able to have his power steering repaired, but this 14-minute stop cost him his place on the provisional podium. The fall from grace was even more damaging for Mattias Ekstrom, who left Wadi in 2nd place in the overall rankings but will sleep in his tent tonight in 5th place, 11’19’’ behind the new leader after a major navigation error.
