Dakar 2024: victory gets closer for Lozerian Martin Bonnet, in the SSV category

Le Lozérien dompte les dunes saoudiennes. Marcin Kin – Marcin Kin

Avec près de trente minutes d’avance sur ses premiers poursuivants, le Mendois avance vers son premier succès mais reste sur ses gardes.

Xavier de Soultrait and Martin Bonnet did not win the ninth stage of the Dakar in SSV, but their performance sounds like a victory. Second in the special between Hail and AlUla, the French duo gained time from all their direct opponents in the general classification. Starting with the Portuguese crew Joao Ferreira/Filipe Palmeiro, who until then was his runner-up. A fuel pump problem caused him to lose more than an hour, and his chances of victory at the same time.

Three days before the finish, the Nivernais pilot and his Mendois navigator are now 28 minutes ahead of the American pair Sara Price/Jeremy Gray. It's starting to smell good.

Loeb as strategic advisor

" The day was stressful, admits the Lozerian co-driver, who knows the hazards of rally-raid well. We tried to roll out our strategy. After Ferreira had his problem, we didn't want to manage too much because I think that's when you do that that you take the most risks. We set the pace, we sailed well and we took a good lead in the general classification. Everything is going well but it's hard, and we're starting to feel the pressure. What's happening is huge!" 

To establish their plan of attack, the leaders can count on the advice of Sébastien Loeb, owner of the team in which they ride. "We will try to maneuver well with the team, talk a little with Seb to find out what he thinks and finish well. Even if there's only a minute left, that'll be enough!" 

No question, however, of slowing down too much. "You shouldn't manage too much because that's where you make the most mistakes. We will avoid risks when there are any, set a rhythm in the sand because we know how to do it, and continue like this until the finish." A thousand kilometers still separate the competitors of the final arch, which will await them in Yanbu on January 19.