With torrential rain the order of the day, the fourth stage of the 2023 Dakar Rally proved to be one of consolidation for the front runners, as overall leader Nasser Al-Attiyah and second overall Yazeed Al Rajhi kept their heads above water.

Frenchmen Stephane Peterhansel and Sebastien Loeb battled it out for the stage win.

For most of the 425 km special, it was 14-time Dakar winner Peterhansel who held the early lead with his Audi RS Q e-tron, until he was eventually passed by Loeb who charged on to his first stage victory of the 2023 Dakar.

It’s a brief consolation for the nine-time World Rally Championship winner, who lost plenty of time over the second and third stages after seemingly endless punctures on his BRX Hunter. Peterhansel finished just 13 seconds behind his compatriot.

Peterhansel’s Audi teammate Carlos Sainz finished third, 1 minute 50 seconds behind Loeb – with Al-Attiyah and Al Rajhi fourth and fifth fastest respectively.

South Africans Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings were sixth fastest in their Gazoo Racing Toyota Hilux and moved up to fifth overall in the general standings.

“The stage didn’t start off very well for us, as we struggled to find a good line early in the day. Maybe my inexperience in the dunes showed a bit, but when Stephane [Peterhansel] caught up with us, we managed to follow him for most of the day.

“When there were roads, we were in front, and when we went off-piste, he was in front. We learned a lot from him today, and overall, we’re happy with today’s result,” Lategan said.