Rookie Quintero captures first Dakar stage win to go third overall

11/01/2021 11/01/2021

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Rookie Seth Quintero boosted his bid for overall victory in his 2021 Dakar Rally category by winning the shortened Stage Six on Friday as Carlos Sainz and Ayrat Mardeev also tasted victory in their respective categories. Here is all you need to know:

Branch 2nd Friday 4th overall Photo By Yamaha for Motorsports Media

Rally organisers shortened the stage by 100km (62.13 miles) and delayed its start by 90 minutes after competitors voiced concerns about Stage Five’s route.

Seth Quintero and Dennis Henz on the Buggy OT3 of the Red Bull Offroad Team USA races during the 6th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Buraydah and Haâil, in Saudi Arabia on January 8, 2021. Photo By Eric Vargiolu for DPPI & Red Bull Content Pool

Teenage sensation Quintero has enjoyed an impressive first half of his maiden outing and he went into Saturday’s Rest Day by becoming the youngest ever Dakar stage winner to move up to third overall.

Francisco Lopez Contardo and Juan Pablo Latrach Vinagre on their Can-Am of South Racing Can-Am Team during the 6th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Buraydah and Haâil, in Saudi Arabia on January 8, 2021. Photo By Eric Vargiolu for DPPI & Red Bull Content Pool

The 18-year-old edged out Khalifa Al-Attiyah by 23 seconds on Friday to move just 8m26s behind Poland’s Aron Domzala in the Lightweight vehicle category after Chilean Chaleco Lopez had a day to forget.

“It looks like we only won by 23 seconds but, in my book, a win’s a win. Today went absolutely amazing. We moved up one position in the general rankings and, instead of 28 minutes off the lead, we’re now only eight minutes away. It feels amazing to be the youngest ever Dakar stage winner. It’s the Rest Day tomorrow, but I could honestly wake up as early as you like and go race again.”
Californian Quintero enthused

Sadly compatriot Mitch Guthrie Jr. – a two-time 2020 stage winner – has withdrawn due to mechanical issues.

Mattias Ekstrom (SWE) for Yamaha powered by X-Raid team races during stage 6 of Rally Dakar 2021 from Buraydah to Haâil, Saudi Arabia on January 08, 2021. Photo By Flavien Duhamel for Red Bull Content Pool /

Watch #DAKAR2021 – Stage 6 – Al Qaisumah / Ha’il – Light Weight Vehicle Highlights

Giniel De Villiers (ZAF) for Toyota Gazoo Racing Team races during stage 5 of Rally Dakar 2021 from Riyadh to Buraydah, Saudi Arabia on January 07, 2021. Photo By Flavien Duhamel for Red Bull Content Pool

Reigning car champion Sainz powered to his second stage win, which leaves him 40m39s behind overall leader Stéphane Peterhansel with Nasser Al-Attiyah just under six minutes behind the 13-time Dakar winner.

“In this first week we have had two days where we have lost 30 minutes so, for sure, we could have done a better job.”
Spaniard Sainz, 58, revealed

The week started with six South African cars in the top eight in Saturday’s Prologue as Al Attiyah laid down a marker for the Gazoo Hilux team, sharing the quickest time with Baragwanath in the Century CR6 Corvette, as former multiple SA Champion Branch went fourth quickest among the motorcycles. The first day of racing was to however prove a taste of things to come as many competitors who qualified well, ran into navigational issues from the get go.

Baragwanath sits sixth Photo By Century Racing for Motorsports Media

Poland’s Kuba Przygoński, South African Giniel De Villiers and Frenchman Cyril Despres finished inside the top 10 but Frenchman Sébastien Loeb suffered a broken suspension arm on his Prodrive-built BRX1.

3 win Al Atiyah a close second Photo By Toyota for Motorsports Media

Watch #DAKAR2021 – Stage 6 – Al Qaisumah / Ha’il – Car Highlights

Matthias Walkner on his KTM of the Red Bull KTM Factory Team races during the 6th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Buraydah and Haâil, in Saudi Arabia on January 8, 2021. Photo By Eric Vargiolu for DPPI & Red Bull Content Pool

On two wheels, former South African champion, Botswana rider Ross Branch‘s Yamaha came in a strong second, just 13 seconds behind Joan Barreda, who took his third stage win of the year for Honda. Daniel Sanders’ KTM was third from Ricky Brabec on a Honda with former champion Matthias Walkner fifth and Sam Sunderland ninth as the Briton now lies sixth overall 4m23s behind.

Toby Price on his KTM of the Red Bull KTM Factory Team races during the 6th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Buraydah and Haâil, in Saudi Arabia on January 8, 2021. Photo By Eric Vargiolu for DPPI & Red Bull Content Pool

Australian Toby Price could only finish seventh on his bike, nevertheless his main rivals struggled enough elsewhere for him to secure the overall lead by 2m16s.

“We’ll take the chance to gather ourselves up and get ready for what’s still to come.”
Price, 33, said

Watch #DAKAR2021 – Stage 6 – Al Qaisumah / Ha’il – Bike/Quad Highlights

Dmitry Sotnikov, Ruslan Akhmadeev and Ilgiz Akhmetzianov in the Kamaz of the KAMAZ Master Team races during the 6th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Buraydah and Haâil, in Saudi Arabia on January 8, 2021. Photo By Eric Vargiolu for DPPI & Red Bull Content Pool

Russian Mardeev pipped compatriot Dmitry Sotnikov to seal his first 2021 stage win as Sotnikov extended his overall truck lead over Anton Shibalov to 37m34s.

Ignacio Casale (CHL) for TATRA BUGGYRA RACING races during stage 6 of Rally Dakar 2021 from Buraydah to Haâil, Saudi Arabia on January 08, 2021. Photo By Flavien Duhamel for Red Bull Content Pool

Watch #DAKAR2021 – Stage 6 – Al Qaisumah / Ha’il – Truck Highlights

Stephane Peterhansel and Edouard Boulanger in the Mini Buggy of the X-Raid Mini JCW Team races during the 6th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Buraydah and Haâil, in Saudi Arabia on January 8, 2021. Photo By Julien Delfosse for DPPI & Red Bull Content Pool

Saturday is a well earned Rest Day for the Dakar convoy before action resumes with Sunday’s marathon Stage Seven from Ha’il to Sakaka.

Nasser Al-Attiyah and Matthieu Baumel in the Toyota Hilux of the Toyota Gazoo Racing races during the 6th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Buraydah and Haâil, in Saudi Arabia on January 8, 2021. Photo By Julien Delfosse for DPPI & Red Bull Content Pool

Overall standings after Stage Six

Car
1. Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA) X-Raid Mini 22h14m03s
2. Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) Toyota Gazoo +00h05m53s
3. Carlos Sainz (ESP) X-Raid Mini +00h40m39s

Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz in the Mini Buggy of the X-Raid Mini JCW Team races during the 6th stage of the Dakar 2021 between Buraydah and Haâil, in Saudi Arabia on January 8, 2021. Photo BY Eric Vargiolu for DPPI & Red Bull Content Pool

Bike
1. Toby Price (AUS) Red Bull KTM 24h08m43s
2. Kevin Benavides (ARG) Honda +00h02m16s
3. Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo Honda +00h02m57s

Sam Sunderland (GRB) of Red Bull KTM Factory Team races during stage 06 of Rally Dakar2021 from Buraydah to Hail, Saudi Arabia on January 08, 2021 Photo By Marcelo Maragni for Red Bull Content Pool

Truck
1. Dmitry Sotnikov (RUS) Kamaz Master 24h26m18s
2. Anton Shibalov (RUS) Kamaz Master +00h37m34s
3. Ayrat Mardeev (RUS) Kamaz Master +01h01m43s

Airat Mardeev (RUS) for KAMAZ Master races during stage 6 of Rally Dakar 2021 from Buraydah to Haâil, Saudi Arabia on January 08, 2021. Photo By Flavien Duhamel for Red Bull Content Pool

Lightweight vehicle
1. Aron Domzala (POL) Can-Am 27h04m29s
2. Austin Jones (USA) Can-Am +00h00m40s
3. Seth Quintero (USA) Red Bull Offroad +00h08m26s

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