The 2024 Dakar Rally comes to an end and what a spectacular event. Honda manages to break KTM’s dominance again, by winning the Dakar Rally while Hero MotorSports takes a podium finish, ahead of KTMs. That said, Harith Noah won the Rally 2 class, a first for an Indian in the Dakar Rally.
The day’s short 175km special saw KTM take a 1-2 podium finish, with Toby Price winning the stage, followed by defending champion Kevin Benavides. However, over the last few days, the winners were decided with Honda’s Ricky Brabec leading the race from the early stages, followed by Hero’s Ross Branch, who led the race briefly. Adrien Van Beveren finished the rally in third, followed by KTM riders Benevides and Price.
India rider Harith Noah takes the overall win in the Rally 2 class while finishing yesterday’s stage in 11th. In the overall rankings, Noah has finished the 2024 Dakar Rally in the 11th place, making him the first-ever Indian to win a Dakar stage, take a podium finish, and finish in the top 15.
In the cars category, El Matador Carlos Sainz takes the overall victory, earning his fourth Dakar win and Audi’s first. The 2024 Dakar champion was followed by Overdrive’s Guillaume De Mevius in second and Loeb in third, after losing time during Stage 11. This year was yet another miss for the nine-time WRC champion and he will be back next year, eyeing for the crown.
2024 Dakar Rally results
| Motorcycles | Rider | Team |
| 1 | Ricky Brabec | Honda |
| 2 | Ross Branch | Hero |
| 3 | Adrien Van Beveren | Honda |
| Cars | Driver | Make |
| 1 | Carlos Sainz | Audi |
| 2 | Guillaume De Mevius | Overdrive Racing |
| 3 | Sebastien Loeb | Prodrive |
