Disappointment as Nasser and Mathieu exit from 2023 ADDC after crash

If ever there was a rollercoaster day in the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), today was it for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel had a comfortable lead of 18min 19sec going into Stage 3 of the 5-stage race, and managed to increase their lead marginally by the end of the day. But their performance was moot, as the pair were forced to withdraw from the race following a high-speed crash near the end of the stage, which damaged the roll cage of their mighty GR DKR Hilux T1+ beyond immediate repair.

As with Stage 2, Nasser and Mathieu were the first car into the stage, which spanned across 266km of sandy tracks and dunes. The pair made short work of the tricky stage, building a lead throughout the day, and looking on course for another stage win. But then, disaster struck near the end of the stage, with the crew rolling the Toyota Hilux T1+ end-over-end three times. The safety cell performed as designed, and the crew were unhurt.

Despite the massive impacts, the GR DKR Hilux T1+ proved drivable, and the crew proceeded to the end of the stage. Thanks to their tenacity and fighting spirit, Nasser and Mathieu not only completed the stage, but managed to win it by a margin of 48sec over the second-placed crew of Sebastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin (BRX).

Unfortunately, an inspection by the FIA post-stage showed that the damage to the car’s protective cage was beyond repair, and the crew were forced to retire from the race, dealing a tough blow to their W2RC aspirations. With that said, they had secured 15 stage win points towards their W2RC tally, and while an overall victory would have bolstered their position, the team was happy to bank the points earned by Nasser and Mathieu.

Teammates Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, who had to bow out of the race due to a boost-related issue in Stage 2, were back in action for Stage 3 of the Abu Dhabi Dessert Challenge. The pair posted the third-fastest time on the stage, clearly showing their potential, and were it not for their woes in Stage 2, they may well have found themselves in the lead of the event, following the demise of their teammates. They finished the stage 6min 59sec behind Nasser and Mathieu, but find themselves in 32^nd position overall, following a penalty after they withdrew from Stage 2.

Two stages remain in the 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, with Stage 4 being the longest of the race. The day is set to start with a road section of 128km, taking the crews from the bivouac at Qasr Al Sarab to the start of a 308km-long special stage, again punctuated by dunes and sandy tracks. A short liaison of 21km will bring the crews back to the same bivouac.

QUOTES:
Alain Dujardyn, W2RC Team Principal: “Yes, not the best day. Although, of course, we should congratulate Nasser and Mathieu for bringing the car home. So, they made it safely to the finish after rolling over 10 kilometres ahead of it. They still secured the P1 position, and Henk and Brett secured the P3. But regretfully, the rollover crash caused a massive impact on the roll cage. And that means that we cannot restart the race. So, Nasser and Mathieu were unfortunately forced to quit the race and as a result, the hard-earned points gained in stage one, two and stage three victories will be lost, because we will not be able to complete the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.”

Nasser Al-Attiyah: “This was a very disappointing day for us. We were in control of the race, as well as the stage, and felt secure in another stage win. But then we made a small mistake near the end of the stage, which caused our GR DKR Hilux T1+ to roll over violently. I’m so grateful to the team for building a strong car, which protected Mathieu and myself in the crash. Even more amazing was that the car started after the impacts, and we managed to drive it to the finish of the stage. In the end, the FIA ruled that our car was unsafe to continue given the damage, and we have no choice but to retire.”

Henk Lategan: “Firstly, I would like to extend my sympathy to Nasser and Mathieu, after they crashed out of the race today. It is a stark reminder that motorsport remains dangerous, and even the best crews in the world are sometimes caught out by the terrain. For us, Stage 3 went very well. We managed to stay in touch with the leaders despite starting some way down the order, and we’re pleased to have set the third-fastest time today.”

STAGE 3 RESULTS:

STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 3: