Sara Price takes first ever podium in Dakar Rally Stage 1 in SSV category. Claiming 6th position in Prologue, Sara and co-driver Jeremy Gray set targets into action tackling the first leg of Dakar from AlUla to Al Henakiyah in total time of 05H 51′ and 31 seconds, securing 3rd after Day 1.
The South Racing Can-Am driver heralds phenomenal start to her debut entry in Dakar, though not really surprising given Sara’s stellar background in Off-Road racing over the past 10 plus years. Starting with her founding skills in Motocross, to developing talents behind the wheel in America’s Super Truck Series, to making the transition racing SCORE International Baja’s, and the inaugural Extreme E Series – Sara has the drive and determination to succeed beyond expectations.
And, Dakar Rally Stage 1 provided the exact competition for the 31 year old to display her race-craft against the best Off-Road driver’s in the world. Rounding out #1 place in World Rally Raid Championship 2024 with the podium, Sara looks set to steer the Team’s Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo vehicle with all confidence needed, across the varied terrains of sand, rock, plains, and the up-coming desert dunes.
Sara: ‘Solid first stage! We have never seen rocks and dust like we experienced today, ever in my life, it was brutal! All I can say is I’m impressed with our Can-Am Off Road and BF Goodrich tyres, after what we put them thru to finish the day strong! So, beyond excited to podium our first stage EVER in the Dakar Rally, but trying not to get too excited cause we still have 14 days to go. Bring on Stage 2′.
In Bike category, British rider Jane Daniels completed the first Stage in commendable 50th place in General classification with the only other female rider – Yael Kadshai completing Stage 1 in 71st position in time of 06H 56′ 11”. Switching to four wheels, Laia Sanz steered her Astara CR6-T to 24th position in General rankings with Buggrya ZM Racing driver Aliyyah Koloc finishing the SS1 in 52nd position with co-driver Sebastien Delauney.
Spanish driver Cristina Gutierrez has a fierce battle on her hands competing against hard-racing compatriots, consolidating her 5th position in a time of 05H 27’44” in Challenger category. For certain, the line-up of driver’s, coupled with experienced co-driver’s will make this super interesting to follow, with only 30 minutes separating the top 9.
Saudi’s Danial Akeel produced another top performance finishing in 17th position after cris-tortu, with X-Raid Yamaha Supported Team’s female duo of Annett Quandt and Annie Seel completing SS1 in 25th place. Rounding out the Challenger category for women were: Rosa Romero Font as co-driver in 27th and Camelia Liporati in 33rd position with co-driver Rodolfo Guillioli.
With Sara Price taking 3rd in SSV – SS1 timed Stage, debut entry Christine GZ put paid to any concerns of her matching her compatriots, finishing in 15th place with co-driver Ricardo Adrian Torlaschi. With total time 07H 11’19”, the Italian/Canary Islands driver only just edged out Onlyfans driver Rebecca Busi who posted 17th position in time of 07H 18’34”.
Clearly not done with completing her first ever Dakar Stage, Emilija Gelazninkiene stated: ‘today was crazy and so so long. And the best part is – we will do it all over again tomorrow’ – finishing in 27th position. And, there was no rest for the women competing in Truck category, with all female crew of Anja van Loon, Floor Maten, and Marije Ettekoven, posting 16th place after SS1.
With Dakar Rally Stage 2 set for tomorrow, all competitors face a long day from Al Henakiyah to Al Duwadimi – total of 655kms with 463kms timed.
Header photo: Sara Price Image: South Racing Can-Am.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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