Rallying-Qatar's al-Attiyah takes the lead after Dakar prologue

Rallying - Dakar Rally - Jeddah to Hail, Saudi Arabia - January 1, 2022 President of Saudi motorsports Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Faisal, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Toyota Gazoo Racing's Nasser Al-Attiya REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

(Reuters) - Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah won the prologue to the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia on Saturday as last year's overall runner-up made a strong start to his bid for a fourth victory in the endurance event.

The Toyota Hilux driver was 12 seconds quicker than Spain's three-times winner Carlos Sainz, driving the electric Audi RS Q e-tron, over the 19km timed sprint stage 1A before a 595km liaison between Jeddah and Ha'il.