Shubaytah, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Yazeed al-Rajhi made history on Friday by becoming the first driver from host nation Saudi Arabia to win the Dakar Rally.

The Overdrive pilot held onto his overnight lead to beat South Africa’s Henk Lategan in a Toyota by 3min 57sec with Mattias Ekstrom of Sweden third in his Ford, more than 20min adrift.

Al-Rajhi, 43, had previously recorded a best finish of third in 2022.

Saudi Arabia have hosted the Dakar Rally since 2020, when it moved from South America.

“I am very, very happy to do it, it is not an easy race, it’s the toughest one that I’ve done in the last eleven years,” Al-Rajhi said.

“For sure, we have made a lot of records today: The first Saudi driver to win and also in the last twenty-five years no private team beat a factory team but we did it this time.”

“Also, it’s the first time there is a winner on the Dakar from the same country in which it is raced, with a Saudi guy winning a Saudi Dakar.”

There was also a first win in the world’s most famous endurance rally for Australia’s KTM rider Daniel Sanders in the motorbike category.

The car category lost a lot of its gloss with two high-profile retirements early in the race.

Four-time winner and defending champion Carlos Sainz exited on the second stage after an accident.

A stage later it was France’s nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb who departed, his Dakar jinx continuing as he was disqualified by the race stewards after his Dacia car was damaged in a crash.

Five-time winner Nasser al-Attiyah never really landed a blow but the Qatari took final stage honours on Friday and finished fourth overall.

Sanders, 30, dominated from the moment he won the prologue and finished a comfortable 8min 50sec faster than Spanish runner-up Tosha Schareina on his Honda.

Sanders is the first rider to record three successive stage wins since Spain’s Joan Barreda achieved the feat in the 2017 edition held between Bolivia and Argentina.

Sanders is the second Australian to prevail in the motorbike category after Toby Price emerged victorious in 2016 and 2019.

“It was a tough race,” Sanders said.

“The last three days couldn’t come quick enough. It was really, really exciting to see the finish line when we came over one dune.”

“You see the whole bivouac, I just smiled and had chills go through my whole body. Super special, won’t forget that moment.”

Schareina, 29, said second place did not leave a bitter taste in the mouth, indeed he revelled in the achievement considering what the grizzled veterans of the event had told him.

“I’m super happy to be here on the finishing line,” he said.

“It was a really hard race and many of the veterans have told me that.”

“It was the toughest ever edition, so I’m super happy to be here on the finishing line, so happy for the team and for everybody taking this second place we have earned.”

“I’m super happy for Daniel, he has done a great job and had a great two weeks.”

“I think the ten minutes more or less he took on the first day allowed him to control the race from then, but I’m super happy for them.”