Riyadh, Jan 20, 2024, On a thrilling Friday evening, the city of Yanbu played host to the closing ceremony of the Saudi Dakar Rally 2024, marking its 5th edition and the 46th in the history of the world rally. The rally, spanning 14 days and comprising 12 stages, covered a formidable distance of over 7,500 km. A total of 778 drivers and co-drivers, utilizing 434 vehicles, participated across six categories: cars, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or quads, desert Challenger vehicles, Side by Side (SxS) light commercial desert vehicles, and trucks.
Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC), presided over the closing ceremony, where the winners were crowned. Among the notable victories, Spanish driver Carlos Sainz of the "Audi" team emerged triumphant in the car category, securing the Saudi Dakar Rally 2024 title. This marked Sainz's fourth win in the rally's history and the second time he claimed victory in the Kingdom. Notably, he became the first driver to win the rally using an electric car with four different manufacturers. Sainz clinched the title with a commanding lead, finishing one hour, 20 minutes, and 25 seconds ahead of his competitors. The Belgian rally driver Guillaume de Mévius secured the second position, while the French rally driver Sébastien Loeb claimed third place, with a time difference of one hour, 25 minutes, and 12 seconds.
The Saudi Dakar Rally continues to captivate audiences with its challenging terrain, fierce competition, and groundbreaking achievements, solidifying its status as a premier event in the world of motorsports. The culmination of the rally in Yanbu celebrated the skill and tenacity of the participants while underlining the Kingdom's commitment to hosting and organizing world-class sporting events.
