Dakar 2022: Mattias Ekström wins the 8th stage ahead of Stéphane Peterhansel in cars, Sébastien Loeb nibbles at – Franceinfo

It could have been a French double, it is finally an Audi double at the end of the 8th stage of the Dakar 2022. Stéphane Peterhansel (Audi) and Sébastien Loeb (Bahrain Raid) finished respectively second (+49 ”) and third (+ 3’08 ”) on arrival at Wadi ad-Dawasir, Monday January 10. Success went to the Swede Mattias Ekström (Audi), victorious for the first time on the rally-raid, thanks to a well-managed end of the race. The second success for the Audi brand in this 2022 edition, after that of Carlos Sainz during the 3rd stage.

Stage 8️⃣

@mattiasekstroem claims his 1st win on the Dakar! # Dakar2022 pic.twitter.com/lPNMvTBUuW

– DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 10, 2022

After 321 kilometers of racing, the leader was nevertheless called Stéphane Peterhansel. The defending champion, out of the overall race since the first stage, set off to clinch his first victory of the edition. At this point in the race, he had just emerged victorious from his duel with Loeb, and Ekström was only third at more than three minutes. There is better for “Monsieur Dakar” but the wheel has not turned.

Mixed feelings also for Sébastien Loeb. The winner the day before and started first, the Alsatian suffered a puncture after only 28 km. Not cooled by the setback, he made a nice comeback and even managed to take the lead halfway through the race. But the battle with Team Audi was ultimately lost.

# Dakar2022 Rear differential overheating on Al Attiyah’s Toyota @francetvsport

– gael robic (@gael_robic) January 10, 2022

There will nonetheless be some positive to be drawn from this day for the former WRC champion since he took more than seven minutes from the leader Nasser Al-Attiyah (+ 7’06 “), victim of a mechanical problem, and who s ‘is mired in two-wheel drive in the dunes. The mattress of the latter at the top of the general classification, however, remains comfortable. With four stages to go, the Qatari still has a 37’58 “lead over Sébastien Loeb.