Page 18 - Empty Quarter News Today

The talks touched on the two countries’ deep-rooted bonds and their coordination in serving pilgrims

The unique challenges of the Dakar Rally's new "48 Chrono" double stage -- a 835km/519-mile slog through the dunes of Saudi Arabia's Empty Quarter -- tested the limits of the competitors' endurance, so it was appropriate that one of the greatest rallying talents of all time came out on top.

Spanish 61-year-old, Carlos Sainz leads the Dakar Rally for Audi by 20 minutes after a stamina-sapping first week in Saudi Arabia

Thursday brought a new wrinkle to the Dakar Rally as the first of a two-day “48th Chrono” that throws some unprecedented challenges at the competitors.

Shubaytah:Sebastien Loeb s decision to go slow in stage five earlier in the week paid off yesterday as the Frenchman won the marathon two day stage...

Carlos Sainz led the Dakar Rally. Sebastien Loeb claimed a 2nd stage win. Nasser Al-Attiyah's hopes of defending his title disappeared.

After struggling early on during this year's race, Australian duo Toby Price and Daniel Sanders came home third and fourth respectively to move up the overall leaderboard after Pablo Quintanilla ran out of fuel. The overall outright cumulative rankings are still very much provisional but we believe Ricky Brabec has overhauled Ross Branch to now be the outright leader.

SHUBAYTAH: (Saudi Arabia): Five-time winner Nasser Al-Attiyah posted his first win of this year’s Dakar Rally on Wednesday, clocking the quickest time in the Empty Quarter dunes between Al-Hofuf and Shubaytah in Saudi Arabia.

Sebastien Loeb's decision to 'go slow' in stage five earlier in the week paid off on Friday as the Frenchman won the marathon two-day stage 6 at the Dakar Rally.Loeb, who has yet to win a Dakar Rally, started Friday's second part of the stage in third place, 37min behind Sainz, but carved his way through the dunes to claim his second stage win of the rally, having also taken stage 4.

Yazeed Al-Rajhi was out of Dakar Rally contention in a new Chrono stage on Thursday an accident ending his hopes of a first overall victory.