Spaniard Carlos Sainz, three-time winner of the event, retired from the Dakar-2023 after his Audi rolled over during the 9th stage on Tuesday, the organizers announced.
"
The Spanish driver who lost control of his Audi at km 6 wanted to wait for his assistance to try to restart on the special but he finally gave up, still suffering from chest pains on the right side
", indicated the organizer ASO on live sound of the race.
The Spaniard asked the medical helicopter en route to the hospital to turn around to escort him to his car.
He and his co-pilot Lucas Cruz emerged unscathed from this accident, which occurred five kilometers after they set off, but were nevertheless transported as a precaution to the hospital in Riyadh to undergo examinations, the organizers further explain.
A few minutes later, ASO however mentioned the hypothesis of a reversal of Sainz: “
The Spaniard wanted to give himself a chance to resume the race and asked the medical helicopter on the way to the hospital to turn around -tour to accompany him to his car.
So he is again with Lucas Cruz waiting for their assistance vehicle.
Unless he changes his mind…
”
Sainz had already experienced a big accident on Friday during the 6th stage: his buggy had had the front left wheel torn off, victim of the same hill as his teammate at Audi, the Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel, who had been forced to retire.
At the start of the 9th stage, the 60-year-old double world rally champion was in 100th position, more than 29 hours behind the leader, the Qatari Nasser al-Attiyah.
The Formula 1 Ferrari driver's father won the Dakar in 2010, 2018 and 2020.
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