Having left Sakaka this morning after an already difficult day for the first part of the marathon stage, which he completed with only one spare wheel, Sébastien Loeb has been forced to drop out of the race.
Halted once after 43 km, he ground to a halt again after 83 km following a second puncture, while his assistance truck also encountered mechanical problems. At the end of the day, the Bahrain Raid Xtreme driver was able to repair the problem, but decided to leave the special and head to the bivouac in Neom by road, putting himself at risk of disqualification for not validating the many remaining way points on the special.
On arrival, he informed his team of his decision to withdraw from the rally, which passed the information on to the race officials.
1 of 44
314 Despres Cyril (fra), Horn Mike (swi), Peugeot, PH Sport, Abu Dhabi Racing, Auto, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
27 Rodrigues Joaquim (prt), Hero, Hero Motorsports Team Rally, Motul, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
301 Al-Attiyah Nasser (qat), Baumel Matthieu (fra), Toyota, Toyota Gazoo Racing, Auto, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
311 Roma Nani (esp), Winocq Alexandre (fra), Hunter, Bahrain Raid Extreme, BRX, Auto, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
303 Al Rajhi Yazeed (sau), Von Zitzewitz Dirk (deu), Toyota, Overdrive Toyota, Auto, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
442 Rosa Lourenço (prt), Dias Joaquim (prt), Can-Am, South Racing Can-Am, Motul, SSV Series - T4, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
305 Loeb Sébastien (fra), Elena Daniel (mco), Hunter, Bahrain Raid Xtreme, Auto, BRX, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
300 Sainz Carlos (esp), Cruz Lucas (esp), Mini, X-Raid Mini JCW Team, Auto, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
444 Chesneau Frédéric (fra), Chesneau Stéphane (fra), Can-Am, FS 21, SSV Series - T4, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
316 Seaidan Yasir (sau), Kuzmich Alexey (rus), Century, SRT Racing, Auto, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
500 Karginov Andrey (rus), Mokeev Andrey (rus), Leonov Igor (rus), Kamaz, Kamaz - Master, Camion, Truck, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
509 Mardeev Airat (rus), Svistunov Dmitriy (rus), Galiautdinov Akhmet (rus), Kamaz, Kamaz - Master, Camion, Truck, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
507 Sotnikov Dmitry (rus), Akhmadeev Ruslan (rus), Akhmatzianov Ilgiz (rus), Kamaz, Kamaz - Master, Camion, Truck, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
505 Vishneuski Aliaksei (blr), Novikau Maksim (blr), Sachuk Siarhei (blr), Maz, Maz-Sportauto, Camion, Truck, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
343 Liu Yangui (chn), Pan Hongyu (chn), Baic, Baic ORV, Auto, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
305 Loeb Sébastien (fra), Elena Daniel (mco), Hunter, Bahrain Raid Xtreme, Auto, BRX, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
303 Al Rajhi Yazeed (sau), Von Zitzewitz Dirk (deu), Toyota, Overdrive Toyota, Auto, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
428 Guayasamin Sebastian (ecu), Torlaschi Ricardo Adrian (arg), Polaris, Xtremeplus Polaris Factory Team, Motul, SSV Series - T4, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
302 Peterhansel Stéphane (fra), Boulanger Edouard (fra), Mini, X-Raid Mini JCQ Team, Auto, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
314 Despres Cyril (fra), Horn Mike (swi), Peugeot, PH Sport, Abu Dhabi Racing, Auto, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI
GCK e-Blast 1 during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Julien Delfosse / DPPI
Energy storage of Solar Panel of Green Corp during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Julien Delfosse / DPPI
Solar Panel of Green Corp during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Julien Delfosse / DPPI
33 Koitha Veettil Harith Noard (ind), Sherco, Sherco TVS Rally Factory, Motul, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI
42 Van Beveren Adrien (fra), Yamaha, Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI
05 Sunderland Sam (gbr), KTM, Red Bull KTM Factory Team, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI
09 Howes Skyler (usa), KTM, Bas Dakar KTM Racing Team, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI
04 Cornejo Florimo Jose Ignacio (chl), Honda, Monster Energy Honda Team 2021, Motul, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI
77 Benavides Luciano (arg), Husqvarna, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Antonin Vincent / DPPI
21 Sanders Daniel (aus), KTM, KTM Factory Team, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Antonin Vincent / DPPI
05 Sunderland Sam (gbr), KTM, Red Bull KTM Factory Team, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Antonin Vincent / DPPI
01 Brabec Ricky (usa), Honda, Monster Energy Honda Team 2021, Motul, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Antonin Vincent / DPPI
19 Goncalves Dias Rui Jorge (prt), Sherco TVS, Sherco TVS Rally Factory, Motul, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Antonin Vincent / DPPI
22 Giemza Maciej (pol), Husqvarna, Orlen Team, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Antonin Vincent / DPPI
77 Benavides Luciano (arg), Husqvarna, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Antonin Vincent / DPPI
15 Santolino Lorenzo (esp), Sherco TVS, Sherco TVS Rally Factory, Motul, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Antonin Vincent / DPPI
31 Michek Martin (cze), KTM, Orion - Moto Racing Group (MRG), Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
32 Schareina Tosha (esp), KTM, FN Speed KTM Team, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
12 De Soultrait Xavier (fra), Husqvarna, HT Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing, Motul, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
03 Price Toby (aus), KTM, Red Bull KTM Factory Team, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
52 Walkner Matthias (aut), KTM, Red Bull KTM Factory Team, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
47 Benavides Kevin (arg), Honda, Monster Energy Honda Team 2021, Motul, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI
Stephane Peterhansel (Photo credit: A.S.O)
Carlos Sainz (Photo credit: ASO)
By: Official Dakar website
