The top driver competing for Dacia was only the eighth fastest on Monday’s stage, but that was still enough to lift him into the overall lead of the event.
The stage victory went to the United States. Toyota Gazoo Racing’s American driver Seth Quintero eventually beat fellow Toyota driver Henk Lategan by one minute and 42 seconds.
Reigning Dakar winner Yazeed Al Rajhi completed the podium, finishing just under two minutes behind the leader in his Overdrive team Hilux.
Al-Attiyah, who moved into the overall lead, was six and a half minutes behind the stage winner. Al-Attiyah has won the traditional Dakar Rally no fewer than five times during his career.
In the overall standings, Quintero is now right on Al-Attiyah’s heels (+0.07), while third-placed Belgian driver Guillaume de Mévius is just over a minute behind the leader.
Rallying legend Sébastien Loeb is also making a strong charge towards the front. The Dacia driver is now fifth overall and is just under two minutes off the lead.
So far, the Dakar Rally has provided very even competition, as shown by the fact that three different teams have occupied the lead during the event.
The prologue was won by Ford driver Mattias Ekström, the actual first stage by Mini driver Guillaume de Mévius, and now the top spot has gone to Toyota’s Quintero.
The Dakar Rally concludes on 17 January.
Dakar Rally standings after the second stage:
| POS | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Dacia | 7:12.16 |
| 2. | Seth Quintero | Toyota | +7.0 |
| 3. | Guillaume de Mevius | Mini | +1:09.0 |
| 4. | Henk Lategan | Toyota | +1:28.0 |
| 5. | Sebastien Loeb | Dacia | +1:57.0 |
