Smiles for Toyota
Even today the Dakar offered thrills and twists in a burst in the Car category, with a new change of leadership at the top of the general classification and a new feat – accomplished this time by the reigning champion Nasser Al Attiyah – in full 'rally raid style'. The stage that took the competitors from Ad Dawadimi to Al Salamiya, 733 km long with 440 km of special stage, was won by the Brazilian Lucas Moraes.
The Toyota driver preceded the Audi of Swede Mattias Ekström by nine seconds, who thanks to today's excellent result also moved up in the general classification, returning to the top-3. In third place in the stage, one first and nine seconds behind the winner, ended instead new leader of the general ranking, the Saudi Yazeed Al Rajhi who started at the start of the stage with 1'51” to make up on Sainz.
Al Attiyah, what a feat
At the wheel of the Toyota of the Overdrive Racing team, Al Rajhi gave the Spanish veteran – who came sixth in the stage and was slowed down by a puncture – three and a half minutes behind. The true 'hero' of the day however, he was the five-time winner Nasser Al Attiyahwho finished fourth in the stage despite three punctures which forced him to reach the Service Park at the end of the special stage on three wheels. Al Attiyah was only 1'33” behind Moraes in the stage. Now in the standings he is fifth, 10 minutes from the top.
The day was decidedly more disappointing, in terms of results, for the two main French champions in the race: Stephane Peterhansel And Sebastien Loeb. Monsieur Dakar he arrived eighth at the finish line, almost eight minutes behind the winner. Things went much worse for Loeb, only 23rd on stage, at 23′ from the winnerafter broke a suspension and he also suffered several punctures, leaving himself without a spare wheel. Overall, the nine-time WRC champion is now ninth, 24 minutes from first place.
Dakar 2024, Car ranking – Stage 3 (Top-10)
| POS | PILOT | CAR | TIME / GAP |
| 1 | Moraes – Monleon | Toyota | 4:14.51 |
| 2 | Ekström – Bergkvist | Audi | +0.09 |
| 3 | Al Rajhi – Gottschalk | Toyota | +1.09 |
| 4 | Al Attiyah – Baumel | Prodrive | +1.33 |
| 5 | Dumas – Dolphin | Toyota | +2.01 |
| 6 | Chicherit – Winocq Sainz–Cruz | Toyota Audi | +3.29 |
| 7 | Serradori – Minaudier | Century | +5.21 |
| 8 | Peterhansel–Boulanger | Audi | +7.49 |
| 9 | Vanagas – Sikk | Toyota | +11.26 |
| 10 | Zala – Fiuza | Mini John Cooper | +14.10 |
Dakar 2024, General car ranking after stage 3 (Top-10)
| POS | PILOT | CAR | TIME / GAP |
| 1 | Al Rajhi – Gottschalk | Toyota | 8:49.38 |
| 2 | Sainz–Cruz | Audi | +0.29 |
| 3 | Ekström – Bergkvist | Audi | +8.26 |
| 4 | Moraes – Monleon | Toyota | +9.17 |
| 5 | Al Attiyah – Baumel | Prodrive | +10.49 |
| 6 | Peterhansel–Boulanger | Audi | +18.05 |
| 7 | Serradori – Minaudier | Century | +18.32 |
| 8 | Dumas – Dolphin | Toyota | +19.58 |
| 9 | Loeb–Lurquin | Prodrive | +24.58 |
| 10 | Zala – Fiuza | Mini John Cooper | +26.12 |
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