Sébastien Loeb suffered one other setback within the 2025 Dakar Rally, shedding over an hour following a barrel-roll within the third stage from Bisha to Al Henakiyah.
Having recovered greater than quarter-hour after electrical points in the course of the 48-hour chrono, Loeb and navigator Fabian Lurquin began the third stage seventh on the highway however misplaced management of their Dacia Sandriders machine on a kicker inside 12km of the 327km check.
The automobile was pitched right into a sequence of rolls earlier than touchdown upright on his wheels with substantial bodywork harm.
Loeb acquired going once more however was compelled right into a second cease to make additional repairs to the entrance of the automobile, with help from the sister Dacia Sandrider of Cristina Gutiérrez and Pablo Moreno Huete.
Very similar to on Sunday, Moreno Huete’s mechanical experience got here to the fore as he helped Loeb change a steering arm earlier than restarting.
Neither Loeb nor Lurquin have been injured within the accident however the time lack of over 50 minutes all however ends their victory hopes.
“We arrived in somewhat ditch that was a hazard, however I don’t know if we have been within the observe or if the observe was flawed, but it surely was not within the notes, and I acquired somewhat kick,” Loeb defined. “It was not too excessive, however the issue was that the automobile landed on the aspect and the automobile rolled.
“We had two tires off the rim, however we have been capable of change it shortly in 5 minutes. Then it was right, we may proceed after which instantly the entrance steering arm broke and I feel it was due to the roll, however we didn’t have the spare half as a result of we misplaced it within the roll.
“So, we needed to await Cristina to reach so we may restore it after which we had an issue with the engine temperature, the engine was at all times too scorching which decreased the facility. So, we simply tried to complete the stage which we did however we misplaced one hour.”
