Organizers of the Dakar 2023 rally announced that French driver Stéphane Peterhansel had to withdraw from the car class on Friday after a crash in his Audi that injured his co-driver Edouard Boulanger, AFP reported.

Stefan Peterhansel and Carlos SainzPhoto: FRANCK FIFE / AFP / Profimedia

Stephan Peterhansel, crash at the 2023 Dakar Rally

At the age of 57, Peterhansel (14 Dakar championship titles in the car and motorcycle classes) crashed at kilometer 212 while leading the sixth stage between Hail and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).

Co-pilot Boulanger complained of back pain and was flown by race medical service to a hospital in Buraydah for further examination.

The French driver took second place in the car class, 22 minutes behind the leader from Qatar, Nasser al-Attiyah (Toyota).

Spanish veteran Carlos Sainz, also driving an Audi, crashed at the same spot, organizers said, but was unhurt, as was his co-driver, and is trying to repair his car before the race resumes.

The sixth stage was shortened by about 100 km due to heavy rains that fell this week in Saudi Arabia, and the weather conditions made the route to Al Duwadimi, where it was originally planned to arrive, inaccessible. The special tests ended in Riyadh, writes Agerpres.