F1: ON TOP OF THE WORLD: Loeb sets new record – Gulf Digital News

F1: ON TOP OF THE WORLD: Loeb sets new record – Gulf Digital News

SEBASTIEN Loeb took Bahrain Raid Xtreme (BRX) to a remarkable new Dakar Rally record yesterday when he secured a sixth successive stage victory in Saudi Arabia.

With another stunning performance in their BRX Prodrive Hunter, Loeb and co-driver Fabian Lurquin eclipsed the previous best run of five Dakar stage wins in a row set by Ari Vatanen during the original African based Paris-Dakar in 1989.

The nine-time World Rally champion was once again in irresistible form among the dunes of the Empty Quarter as he convincingly won the 154km penultimate stage of the rally from Shaybah to Al Hofuf by 5 mins 28 secs from overall leader Nasser Al Attiyah.

Loeb’s dominance over the last six days, underlining the power and all-round capability of the Prodrive Hunter in hostile desert conditions, has put him within reach of a second consecutive Dakar runner-up finish in Dammam tomorrow.

It might have been even better but for a flurry of punctures and other setbacks last week, with Al Attiyah, who collected a one minute penalty yesterday, now leading by 1:21:42 in his Toyota and on the verge of his fifth Dakar triumph.

Loeb’s seventh stage success overall in this year’s event, the eighth for the Prodrive Hunters following