The 2024 Dakar of the regionals: the Lozerian Romain Bonnet and his pilot from Soultrait take the lead of the Dakar, the Aveyron native Minaudier and Serradori give in to Loeb

Bonnet et son pilote sont désormais premiers du classement général. A.S.O./DPPI/F.LeFloch

This Dakar 2024 is going increasingly better for the duo in SSV, who took the lead in the general classification after the seventh stage on Sunday January 14.

Winners of the prologue then the fifth and sixth stages in the SSV category, the Nivernais Xavier de Soultrait and his Lozerian co-pilot Martin Bonnet followed up with a second place during the seventh stage of the Dakar, Sunday.

Above all, they have put behind them the opponents they are fighting against in the general classification. "It happened on a navigational occasion where they circled for five minutes", details the Mendois.

Their performance allows them to take control of the race with 7'30'' ahead of the Saudi Yasir Seaidan and his Gard co-pilot Adrien Metge.

Minaudier didn’t go far

The regionals fight for victory in the "small" category of the Dakar car. The Aveyronnais Florent Vayssade and Nicolas Rey were unable to finish the special between Riyadh and Al Duwadimi due to a mechanical problem.

Among the big names of the Ultimate group, Loïc Minaudier almost created a big surprise. He and his pilot Mathieu Serradori were in a duel to win the stage against Sébastien Loeb before arriving in the dunes, where they encountered difficulties. 

Their sixth place of the day – and first in two-wheel drive – remains remarkable, however, as does the eighth place of Gardois Romain Dumas, more at ease in stones and canyons than dunes.

Among the bikers, Vincent Biau has slipped through the traps and tells us that he is gradually feeling better physically. Injured in the foot, he still has five days to go to collect his first finisher's medal in Yanbu, on the 19th.