Vaidotas Zala wins the first stage of Dakar Rally, Fernando Alonso finishes 11th 

Al Wajh: Lithuanian Mini driver Vaidotas Zala pulled off a huge upset by finishing ahead of all the Dakar Rally favorites, including Spanish Toyota driver Fernando Alonso, and winning the first stage in the car category of the grueling race in the Saudi desert.

Alonso, a two-time Formula 1 champion, finished Sunday’s race in 11th place, coming in 15 minutes behind Zala, reports Efe news.

The Lithuanian racer, who was at the wheel of a Mini 4x4, completed the timed 319-kilometer (198-mile) segment of the first stage of the Dakar Rally between the cities of Jeddah and Al Wajh in 3:19:04.

French Mini driver Stephane Peterhansel, a three-time Dakar Rally champion, finished in second place, just two minutes and 14 seconds behind the winner, while another Mini driver, Carlos Sainz, took third place, finishing two minutes and 50 seconds behind Zala.

Qatari Toyota driver Nasser Al Attiyah, the defending Dakar champion in the car category, posted the best partial times but had tire problems in the final stretch and was unable to win the stage.

Spain’s Joan “Nani” Roma, who finished in second place in the 2019 general standings, had a rough debut with Germany’s Borgward Rally Team, finishing 28 minutes behind Zala. IANSc

Also Read: Fernando Alonso survives first Dakar stage

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