Rallying - Dakar Rally - Stage 1 - Bisha to Bisha - Saudi Arabia - January 4, 2025 X-raid Mini JCW Team's Guerlain Chicherit and Alexandre Winocq in action during stage 1 as a helicopter is seen REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
(Reuters) -American Seth Quintero led the two-week Dakar Rally on Saturday as race favourites in the car category slowed to secure better conditions for Sunday's 48-hour Chrono stage in the Saudi Arabian desert.
French Mini driver Guerlain Chicherit was fastest in the 413-km first stage around the southwestern town of Bisha but Toyota's Quintero, who finished 50 seconds behind, was promoted hours later.
