American driver Seth Quintero has been promoted to first place on the opening stage of the Dakar Rally after helping a crashed rival in Saudi Arabia.

American Seth Quintero led the two-week Dakar Rally on Saturday as race favourites in the car category slowed to secure better conditions for Sunday's 48-hour Chrono stage in the Saudi Arabian desert.

America's Seth Quintero has 20 Challenger Dakar Rally stage wins to his name, six of which he claimed at age 18 in 2021. Today, he claimed his first stage win in the Ultimate class, despite crossing the finish line for the opening stage of the 47th

French Mini driver Guerlain Chicherit won the first stage of the Dakar Rally on Saturday, the race favourites having eased up so as not to land an unfavourable position for the upcoming 48-hour chrono.

Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit led the two-week Dakar Rally on Saturday as race favourites in the car category slowed to secure better conditions for Sunday's 48-hour Chrono stage in the Saudi Arabian desert.