Rabat: Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah showcased his exceptional skills in the Moroccan desert, leading his new team, Dacia Sandrider, to a remarkable debut victory at the Rally of Morocco on Friday.
This victory marked Al Attiyah’s seventh win at the Rallye du Maroc and secured him his third consecutive FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) title. His earlier successes at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and Rally Raid Portugal compensated for his non-finish at this year’s Dakar.
During the final stage in Morocco on Friday, Al Attiyah finished eighth, trailing stage winner Sebastien Loeb. However, this was sufficient for him to clinch both the rally and the world title. In the championship standings, he accumulated 202 points, leading his nearest competitor, Yazeed al-Rajhi of Saudi Arabia, by 42 points. Additionally, Al Attiyah’s navigator, Edouard Boulanger, achieved his first co-driver world title, surpassing Timo Gottschalk (Overdrive Racing) and Armand Monleon (Toyota Gazoo Racing).
Al Attiyah expressed his satisfaction, stating, “The victory and a third world title for the first race with Dacia, we couldn’t have dreamed of better. The season wasn’t necessarily easy after our retirement from the Dakar. We corrected the situation well and I’m really happy about that. We will continue the development of the Sandrider to arrive at the Dakar in top shape.”
Demonstrating his penchant for bold decisions, Al Attiyah transitioned to a new vehicle at the season’s end, a move that proved successful and added another chapter to his illustrious career. The Qatari driver achieved an impressive victory, with the Sandrider proving itself capable of meeting the challenges ahead, particularly in preparation for the upcoming Dakar Rally.
Al Attiyah dominated the shortened opening stage on Monday, winning five stages without encountering any mechanical issues or punctures throughout his journey to victory.
His abilities were thoroughly tested in Morocco, particularly against Guillaume de Mevius, who displayed strength while piloting the X-Raid Mini JCW. Both teams pushed Toyota to maintain their pace, with al-Rajhi finishing in a commendable third place in the rally.
The Saudi driver also took second place in the W2RC championship for the second time, with Lucas Moraes completing the podium. Despite not winning, Toyota Gazoo Racing secured the constructors’ title.
The 2025 season will get off the ground at the Dakar in Saudi from January 3 to 17, followed by the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge from February 21 to 27. Next, the championship will make its first foray into the South African Safari Rally from May 18 to 24 before heading to Europe for the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal from September 22 to 28. Last but not least, the caravan will double back to Africa for the finale at the Rallye du Maroc, scheduled for October 10 to 17.
Rally du Maroc – final result (top 10):
1. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT)/Edouard Boulanger (FRA) Dacia Sandrider 14hr 26min 34sec
2. Sebastien Loeb (FRA)/Fabian Lurquin (BEL) Dacia Sandrider 14hr 31min 44sec
3. Guillaume de Mévius (BEL)/Mathieu Baumel (FRA) Mini JCW Rally 3.0D 14hr 40min 19sec
4. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU)/Timo Gottschalk (DEU) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 14hr 50min 04sec
5. Seth Quintero (USA)/Dennis Zenz (DEU) Toyota GR DKR Hilux 14hr 56min 05sec
6. Martin Prokop (CZE)/Viktor Chytka (CZE) Ford Raptor RS 15hr 13min 50sec
7. Eryk Goczal (POL)/Alex Haro (ESP) Taurus T3 Max 15hr 14min 11sec
8. Denis Krotov (KGZ)/Konstantin Zhiltsov (ANA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 15hr 21min 19sec
9. Marek Goczal (POL)/Maciej Marton (POL) Taurus T3 Max 15hr 24min 02sec
10. Juan Cruz Yacopini (ARG)/Daniel Oliveras (ESP) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 15hr 24min 57sec
