The Sportspedia
Kris Meeke (NIR), a World Rally Championship driver, and his teammate Wouter Rosegaar (NED), sought a Dakar Rally stage win and they managed to do it in the very last one, in Saudi Arabia, in the Lightweight vehicle category.
Reinaldo Varela and Maykel Justo (BRA) won their first Side By Side (SSV) stage -second among lightweight vehicles-, that helped them secure fifth overall.
Other South Americans, Francisco “Chaleco” López and Juan Pablo Latrach Vinagre (CHL) won overall, after taking five stages. It is the second time that López Contardo won in this category (2019).
He was followed both in Side By Side and Lightweight vehicles by Austin Jones (USA)/Mauricio Gugelmin (BRA) and Aron Domżała/Maciej Marton (POL).
Another Polish team, Michal Goczal and Szymon Gospodarczyk were second in the last stage among the Side By Side crews, ahead of experienced Kees Koolen (NED) and Jurgen van der Goorbergh (NED).
Among the prototypes it was the five-time quads winner, Josef Machacek (CZE), who won with Pavel Vyoral (CZE).
Camelia Liparoti (ITA) and Annett Fischer (DEU) were the only women to finish in the category.