Trucker Janus van Kasteren won the ninth stage in the Dakar Rally on Tuesday. It is the second day victory of the Dutchman. Spanish rally driver Carlos Sainz had retired after his crash, but later decided to continue the race in Saudi Arabia.
Van Kasteren defeated compatriot Pascal de Baar in the 358 kilometer ride from Riyadh to Haradh. Due to his good performance, the Dutchman rises to second place in the general classification, behind the Czech Ales Loprais.
Sixty-year-old Sainz, father of the Formula 1 driver of the same name, crashed after just 6 kilometers. He was transported by helicopter to the hospital for further medical examination. But Sainz changed his mind and allowed himself to be taken back to where his battered Audi was parked.
The Frenchman Sébastien Loeb booked his third stage victory in the car category. The driver was more than three minutes ahead of the Lithuanian Vaidotas Zala at the finish. Loeb is third in the standings, 1 hour and 43 minutes behind leader Nasser Al Attiyah.
The Argentinian Luciano Benavides won the stage in the motorcycles. He was fastest on his Husqvarna in the 358 kilometer test through the desert. At the finish he was about a minute ahead of Australian Toby Price (KTM). For Benavides it was his second day success.
Classification leader Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) finished third in just under three minutes. He wasted precious time on Price, who is only three seconds behind Howes in the standings. Luciano’s brother Kevin Benavides (KTM) is third in the standings at five minutes.
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