The Morocco Rally showcased its unpredictable nature in just one day, reminding participants that making extensive plans in rally-raid events can often lead to disappointment. Carlos Sainz led for over 100 kilometers, but complications arose for Sébastien Loeb, who faced a mechanical issue that jeopardized his lead in the championship standings. In contrast, Lucas Moraes, who had not appeared as a strong contender throughout the special stage, seized the opportunity to finish first at the finish line. The Brazilian, alongside his new Spanish co-driver Pablo Moreno, marked their debut partnership with a victory for Dacia in the opening stage from Agadir to Zagora, a grueling journey of over 600 kilometers that featured a special stage of approximately 270 kilometers, taking the caravan into the desert for the first time. While the official program had stated a timed section of 268 kilometers, the Race Center ultimately recorded it at 271.7 kilometers, underscoring the competitive spirit that permeated the event.
Sainz Leads, Dunes Shift the Narrative, and Penalties Arise
Starting from the ninth position seemed promising for Carlos Sainz and his co-driver Dani Oliveras, and for much of the day, it indeed was. The Ford Raptor surged to the front by the 97-kilometer mark, maintaining its lead at checkpoints 127 and 166 with minimal gaps between competitors; at one point, the top nine drivers were only separated by a mere 27 seconds. However, the first set of dunes drastically altered the leaderboard. Guillaume de Mevius overtook Sainz around the 201-kilometer mark, while Mathieu Serradori emerged as the fourth different leader of the day. Moraes quietly closed in on the leaders, and at the critical moment, the Dacia crossed the finish line just 13 seconds ahead of Serradori, with Mitch Guthrie placing third in his Ford at 1:04 behind. Initially, Sainz finished in fourth place, just 1:17 off the lead, but a five-minute speeding penalty relegated him to 12th place, 6:17 behind Moraes. This outcome obscured a stage where the Raptor had shown sufficient speed to contend for victory. Mattias Ekström benefitted from Sainz's misfortune, inheriting fourth place with another Ford, while Saood Variawa and Seth Quintero followed suit.
Loeb's Struggles: Over Two Hours Lost
Despite the official standings, the most significant story of the day revolved around Sébastien Loeb, who commenced the Morocco Rally as the championship leader with a narrow three-point advantage over Nasser Al-Attiyah. However, after leading the pack, his Dacia Sandrider suffered a mechanical failure at the 201-kilometer mark. Although Loeb managed to make repairs and continue, he ultimately finished the day with a staggering delay of 2 hours and 25 minutes behind Moraes. This considerable setback has all but eliminated his chances of securing the overall victory, shifting his focus to accumulating points in the remaining four stages to protect his championship lead. In stark contrast, Al-Attiyah had a relatively uneventful day; despite losing nearly four minutes toward the end, he completed the stage in seventh place, just 3:48 behind Moraes, which may prove crucial in the title fight.
The Morocco Rally is far from concluding its impact on the championship landscape, having transformed dramatically after just one stage of competition.
In the motorcycle category, Ricky Brabec of Honda emerged as the new leader, finishing the day with a 10-second advantage over Daniel Sanders, with Edgar Canet making a strong impression in third place, just 43 seconds behind. The young Spanish rider had already secured second place in the prologue and continued to perform well as the race progressed. However, Tosha Schareina, another Spanish competitor, struggled to find the pace and finished ninth, 7:27 behind Brabec. The rally continues on Wednesday with Stage 2, a loop from Zagora to Zagora covering a total of 423 kilometers, with 300 kilometers against the clock.
As reported by es.motorsport.com.
