Puck Klaassen has won the eighth stage in the Challenger category by just three seconds over Dania Akeel. It is the first time that two women have led the podium of a Dakar stage. In the SSV class, Brock Heger claimed his fourth victory, while Xavier de Soultrait experienced a dramatic day and drops out of the top three.
It was a nail-biting finale in Challenger. At kilometre 448, Klaassen still had an eleven-second advantage over Akeel, but at the finish that had shrunk to three seconds. Paul Spierings completed the podium at 21 seconds and David Zille finished fourth at 28 seconds.
“Klaassen beats Akeel for a female one-two in the Challenger race!” the organisation reported. “The suspense has remained intact until the finale in the Challenger class. The officials were waiting for Puck Klaassen, who had the best time, 11 seconds ahead of Dania Akeel after 448 km.”
Second victory for Klaassen
For Klaassen it is her second Dakar victory after stage 3. She is the fifth woman ever to win a stage at the Dakar. Akeel chased her first victory all day and closed in during the final section. At kilometre 310 she was still 1:24 behind, at kilometre 341 that was 41 seconds and at kilometre 382 just three seconds.
Klaassen was stunned at the finish. “I didn’t even know! We just came in and everyone told me,” she said. “In a stage of about 480 kilometres, three seconds difference is really bizarre.” She started as the tenth Challenger, which gave her ‘clean air’ to push. “Augusto also made some really good navigation choices. I think a lot of people got lost and we did it right,” she explained. The windscreen of her G-Ecko also helped on the fast straights. “It was a very fast stage with a lot of full-throttle straights.”
“A victory for women in the Challenger class? Puck Klaassen became the 5th woman driver to win a special on the Dakar by tasting victory on stage 3 in the Challenger class,” the organisation reported. “The Dutchwoman is looking well set for a double but another woman may prevent her from doing so, namely Saudi Arabian Dania Akeel.”
Spierings led for long time
Paul Spierings led at the first four checkpoints (kilometres 45, 86, 136 and 180) but lost ground in the finale. At kilometre 223 he had just six seconds advantage over Zille and Klaassen. The top five were within 1:04.
David Zille had problems with his tracking beacon and temporarily disappeared from the results, but returned and finished fourth. Kevin Benavides, yesterday’s winner, finished eighth at 5:12.
Other Dutch results
In addition to two Dutchmen in the top three, there were of course more Dutchmen who drove the eighth stage. Pim Klaassen finished 17th at 39:55 in his Taurus. Kees Koolen, Puck Klaassen’s teammate, finished 18th at 50:02, losing a place in the overall standings as a result. Koolen is now 11th at 3:17:07, just 8:09 ahead of Spierings.
Navarro retains lead
Pau Navarro retains the lead in the classification with now a 2:02 advantage over Nicolás Cavigliasso. Lucas del Rio is third at 40:46 (including 0:50 penalty) and Yasir Seaidan fourth at 42:42 (including 1:30 penalty). Klaassen is sixth at 1:36:46.
Heger dominates SSV
In the SSV category, Brock Heger claimed his fourth victory of this Dakar. The American dominated all day and ultimately won by 46 seconds over Jeremías González Ferioli. João Monteiro finished third at 1:33 (including 0:20 penalty).
It was an exciting duel until the end. Ferioli took the lead at kilometre 180 with a 13-second advantage and at kilometre 414 with seven seconds. But Heger struck back at kilometre 341 with a 19-second advantage and at kilometre 448 with 41 seconds.
At kilometre 223, the top four were within 58 seconds. Kyle Chaney finished seventh at 10:44 with a massive 8:10 penalty.
Guerreiro out, De Soultrait loses major time
Gonçalo Guerreiro retired after an accident at kilometre 50. The Portuguese driver broke his arm and was airlifted to the bivouac. He was fifth in the classification.
Xavier de Soultrait experienced a dramatic day. The Frenchman drove most of the stage in two-wheel drive and lost over 24 minutes. He drops out of the top three and is virtually fourth at over an hour behind Heger.
Monteiro to second place
João Monteiro climbs to second place in the classification at 46:59 (including 0:20 penalty). Kyle Chaney is third at 51:27. Ferioli is fifth at 2:57:35 (including 0:30 penalty).
Johan Kristoffersson drove a strong stage and finished fourth at 2:02, despite a 33:10 penalty. It is his best SSV result to date.
The 483-kilometre special around Wadi ad-Dawasir delivered spectacular finishes in both the Challenger and SSV classes. Tomorrow follows the ninth stage, the first part of the marathon stage to Bisha.
