Sébastien Loeb’s disqualification from Dakar Rally 2025 comes after a harrowing crash during Stage 3 that saw his aspirations for a first Dakar win come to a premature end.
The nine-time World Rally Champion, who has long been a formidable competitor in various motorsport arenas, faced a significant setback as his Dacia Sandrider rolled over just 12 kilometers into the challenging 327-kilometer stretch from Bisha to Al Henakiyah.
Sébastien Loeb’s disqualification not only ended his hopes for this year’s rally but also highlighted the unpredictable and perilous nature of the Dakar Rally.
During the early stages of the race, the celebrated French rally driver had shown promise despite encountering mechanical issues that hindered his performance.
In the first stage, he suffered from electrical problems that cost him over half an hour, forcing him to recover time in subsequent stages. By the time he reached Stage 3, he had managed to position himself competitively, starting the day in sixth place.
However, the harsh realities of off-road racing quickly became apparent as he lost control of his vehicle on a partially off-piste section of road.
Sébastien Loeb’s crash itself was severe; his Dacia Sandrider clipped a ditch and subsequently flipped multiple times before landing back on its wheels. Fortunately, both Loeb and his co-driver, Fabian Lurquin, emerged unscathed from the incident.
After making temporary repairs to their damaged vehicle, the duo attempted to continue the race but faced further complications. A broken steering rod and subsequent overheating issues plagued their efforts, ultimately costing them more than an hour in time penalties.
Despite these setbacks, Loeb managed to complete Stage 3 in 4 hours and 20 minutes, finishing in 16th place overall. However, his performance was overshadowed by the extensive damage sustained during the crash.
Following the stage, an inspection by FIA technical stewards deemed the vehicle unsafe for continued competition due to damage to its roll cage as per FIA regulations outlined in Article 283-1 of Appendix J, resulting to Loeb’s disqualification from Dakar Rally 2025.
A statement from the stewards read: “At the end of stage three, the safety cage of car #219 was inspected following a crashing during the selective section and found damage.
“In the opinion of the FIA Technical Delegate, considering the damage of the safety cage, and based on article 283-1 of the Appendix J, it is not safe to allow the competitor to continue on the event.
“The stewards do not doubt the information contained in the FIA Technical Delegate’s report.”
The decision to exclude Loeb from further participation reflects not only the severity of his crash but also underscores the relentless nature of the Dakar Rally. The event is notorious for its demanding conditions and high stakes, where even minor errors can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
This year’s rally has already seen other prominent competitors fall victim to similar fates; notably, defending champion Carlos Sainz was forced out after rolling his Ford Raptor during Stage 1.
Sebastien Loeb’s disqualification marks another disappointment in his pursuit of Dakar glory. Despite being a legendary figure in rallying with numerous accolades—including three second-place finishes at Dakar—he has yet to secure an overall victory in this grueling endurance race.
The 50-year old’s experience in other forms of motorsport has not translated into success at Dakar, where navigating treacherous terrains and enduring extreme conditions is paramount.
Dacia Sandriders to appeal against Loeb’s disqualification
Dacia Sandriders signalled its intent to appeal the decision in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules.
Their statement read: “The Dacia Sandriders acknowledges the Decision of the Stewards to disqualify Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin from the Dakar Rally 2025 as a result of deformation sustained to the #219 Dacia Sandrider during an accident on Stage 3 of the event today (Tuesday January 7).
“Following the accident, a thorough inspection of the #219 Dacia Sandrider was carried out by technicians from The Dacia Sandriders under the close supervision of the team’s technical director, Philip Dunabin, and engineering consultant, David Lapworth.
“Having been summoned to a Stewards’ hearing in response to a report issued by the FIA Technical Delegate, representatives of The Dacia Sandriders made a submission to the Stewards.
“The Dacia Sandriders stated that calculations to verify the structure of the car’s safety cage were made and concluded that a section of the structure, although deformed, is not integral to the strength of the structure and, therefore, does not impact the safety of the car.
“While safety is always of paramount importance, the Dacia Sandriders shares the disappointment of Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin following the Decision of the Stewards and decided to lodge an appeal.”
