Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah (inset) drives the new Dacia Sandrider during Stage 2 of the Rallye du Maroc, yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah, alongside his co-driver Edouard Boulanger, extended his overall lead in the 25th edition of the Rallye du Maroc, the final leg of the 2024 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship after securing second-place finish in Stage 2 in Zagora.
Lucas Moraes of Toyota Gazoo Racing claimed the 267-kilometer special stage victory, edging out Al Attiyah by just 13 seconds.
The podium win stretched Al Attiyah’s overall lead which now stands at 8'22" over X-raid Mini JCW driver Guillaume de Mévius and his navigator Mathieu Baumel. The Brazilian Moraes moved up to the third position in the overall podium following his victory yesterday.
Al Attiyah, a two-time world champion, is aiming for his eighth FIA World Rally-Raid title and currently leads the Championship standings by 20 points over his closest competitor, Yazeed Al Rajhi. Al Rajhi, also driving for Toyota, started the day just 1'39" behind Al Attiyah, but after finishing 10th in Stage 2 - 14:38 off the pace - he has dropped to sixth overall.
In the Challenger category, Qatar’s Khalifa Al Attiyah and navigator Enio Bozzano finished sixth in yesterday’s stage, while Abdulaziz Al Kuwari and his co-driver Nasser Saadoon Al Kuwari took 14th position.
Today’s special stage will cover a distance of 325 kilometers, taking the competitors from Zagora to Mengoub.
