NEOM, Saudi Arabia – Giniel de Villiers claimed the second stage of the Dakar Rally on Monday while X-Raid Mini driver Orlando Terranova took over the overall race lead.
The 367 kilometer stage was dominated by Yazeed Al Rajhi, who led through the first five checkpoints and was ahead by more than six minutes after 250 kilometers. However, he lost 20 minutes late in the stage and gave up the lead to de Villiers.
Despite the stage win, de Villiers is 12 minutes behind Terranova in the overall car standings after a dismal opening day on Sunday. Terranova, who finished a little more than three minutes behind de Villiers during Monday’s second stage, leads Carlos Sainz by more than four minutes in the overall standings.
Two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso appeared to be on pace with the other top contenders in the car division, but a collision with a rock damaged his Toyota Hilux, leaving him several hours behind the race leaders.
In the motorcycle class, Ross Branch broke through for his first stage victory a little more than a minute over Sam Sunderland, who moved into the motorcycle division overall lead. Sunderland leads Pablo Quintanilla by one minute and 18 seconds in the overall division standings.
In the truck class, Siarhei Viazovich edged Dmitry Sotnikov by nearly two minutes to win the stage. Viazovich leads the overall truck class standings by a little more than four minutes.
The SxS class belonged to Francisco ‘Chaleco’ Lopez Contardo on Monday as the reigning class champion won the stage by more than 10 minutes. He holds a more than nine minute lead over American Casey Currie in the overall standings after two days.
The quad class was won for the second-straight day by Ignacio Casale, who padded his overall lead in the division to more than nine minutes of Rafal Sonik.