Toby Price looks set to take just a 12-second lead into the final day of the 2023 Dakar Rally after high drama involving both of his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team-mates on Stage 13.
Price had started the penultimate special a mere 28 seconds ahead of Husqvarna’s Skyler Howes but Kevin Benavides appears likely to move into second place despite setting a stage time 20:42s slower than the Australian.
The Argentine had stopped during the first half of a sandy, 154km special between Shaybah and Al-Hofuf to assist his other team-mate, Matthias Walkner, who had crashed 55km in.
Benavides is predicted to be credited with 23:10s back, wiping out most of the 23:22s deficit relative to Price in the provisional overall classification.
Husqvarna’s Skyler Howes would thus drop to third and, in any event, is set to start tomorrow’s final stage 1:31s in arrears of Price.
Walkner is reported to have been conscious when the medical team reached him, but was suffering back pain.
UPDATE: Price retains Dakar lead as Benavides promoted to stage win
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