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American Ricky Brabec has won the 2024 Dakar Rally, with Botswana rider Ross Branch runner-up and Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren on the podium in third.

The 7,967 km of rallying across Saudi Arabia came to a conclusion by the breathtaking Red Sea at Yanbu with Monster Energy Honda Team rider Brabec taking the top step of the Dakar for a second time, making history as the only American to do so.

After spending much of the first week amongst the front runners, the 2020 winner took the reins after the gruelling 48 Hour Chrono and despite a one second margin to second place Ross Branch (Hero Motorsports Team Rally), from Botswana, at the end of stage seven, the Californian never looked back and rode to a faultless Dakar win with nearly 11 minutes in hand.

In what has been a calm and collected display throughout the rally by the 32-year-old, he also added another stage win to the 10 he has already collected in his Dakar career to date and leaves round one at the top of the 2024 World Rally-Raid Championship standings.

At his ninth attempt of the Dakar, Frenchman Van Beveren stood on the podium that has eluded him over the past few years after taking a hard fought 48 Hour Chrono stage victory, the sand specialist found his rhythm in the second week and had an immense battle with Branch and his Honda team-mate José Ignacio Cornejo for the podium.

Despite a near miss with a camel the day before, he fought right to the end for the runner-up spot but had to make do with the final podium place.

One of two Chilean riders in the Monster Energy Honda Team, ‘Nacho’ Cornejo had one of his career best performances at the famous rally, from the off he led in the standings and racked up a hat-trick of magnificent stage victories, also fighting for an elusive podium.

Unfortunately, a fuel pump issue put paid to his fight and his final sixth place did not reflect on what a truly outstanding performance he produced.

His fellow Chilean, Pablo Quintanilla has been the runner up twice at the Dakar and as the most experienced member of the team was eager to turn his 12th participation into victory.

“Unfortunately for the Dakar Legend, the 48 Hour Chrono would put paid to his chances when he ran short of fuel on the first day of the tough stage. Despite the disappointment he battled on helping his team-mates and also taking valuable points in the World Rally-Raid Championship.

“It’s a nice way to start the year with a victory,” said Brabec afterwards.

“It wasn’t easy as the course was really tough and so was the competition. Ross and my own team kept me on my toes, but not just me, I think we were keeping everyone on each other’s toes. It was definitely a fight to the end for everyone.

“I’m really happy we’re all here and all safe and we can go home. This time was a little bit different as I feel like this one was more earned as it was a lot tougher.

“In 2020, we had a big gap from the get-go. Here, I think me and Ross spent three days with a couple of seconds difference. It was a tight race for all of us. I think between first and third there are 11 minutes or something, whatever Adrien got, but it’s been a tight race and 10 minutes is not a big gap here on the rally.

“I had two good days, two opportunities to make a good push, but also stage 11 was a scare factor for me because I knew Ross was starting behind me, 18 minutes behind, and, if he caught me, it would be over.

Stage 11 was hard but I stayed focused, got to the finishing line and didn’t lose too much time, so I’m really happy with this and I’m really happy for the team. I’m happy for all of us, we did an excellent job all of the two weeks. I think number 9 will be my lucky number from now on.”

Photo courtesy Honda

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RallyGP Results – Stage 12:

RallyGP Provisional Final Standings: