2024 Dakar Rally: Hero MotoSports takes overall lead

The 2024 Dakar Rally is getting intense after stage two, where competitors had to battle a 463-kilometre times stretch. At the end of the day, Honda factory rider Nacho Cornejo took the stage win in the motorcycle category while Mr Dakar, Stephane Peterhansel, took the win for Team Audi.

Although Cornejo took the stage win for Honda, the overall leader after stage 2 of the Dakar Rally is the ‘Kalahari Ferrari’, Ross Branch, riding for Hero MotoSports. Stage two’s top three finishers consisted of Luciano Benavides in second and Pablo Quintanilla in third.

Defending champion Kevin Benavides finished stage two in 19th, while teammate Toby Price finished the stage in seventh. One of the contenders for the top podium finish, Mason Klein faced technical difficulties on his Kove yesterday, just 40km into the stage and later by Sherco rider Lorenzo, just under two hours after the start of the stage.

Klein managed to sort out his difficulties and get going after losing two hours, finishing the stage in 107th place, while Lorenzo, had to throw in the towel after engine failure.

Moving on to the cars, Mr Dakar’s stage win marked his 50th career victory, and he was followed by nine-time WRC champion, Sebastien Loeb in second and Seth Quintero in third. Quintero briefly managed to lead, but Peterhansel’s experience was no match for the American on his first T1+ outing. Defending Champion Nasser Al-Attiyah finished the stage in fourth place yesterday.

In the overall rankings, Carlos Sainz Sr leads in his Audi, followed by Al-Rajhi in second and Loeb in third. Al-Attiyah stands 7th overall, with over 12 minutes to make up for catching the leader.

Hero MotoSports is also having a brilliant Dakar outing so far, after a stage victory yesterday, making them the overall leaders. Yesterday was another reason to celebrate as Sebastian Buhler finished fourth on the stage.

2024 Dakar Rally Stage 2 results