The 52-year-old Al-Attiyah received three phases and had greater than an hour’s benefit within the total standings over Frenchman Sebastien Loeb, who additionally completed runner-up final 12 months.

Al-Attiyah’s Toyota team-mate Lucas Moraes of Brazil completed third on his debut within the iconic take a look at of endurance which reached its climax in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Al-Attiyah took the general lead after the third stage, having constructed up a commanding benefit within the first week and deployed a safety-first technique within the second half of the race.

“We just finished and I’m so happy. It was a difficult Dakar for everyone,” mentioned Al-Attiyah.

“It’s crazy to manage to defend my title. I’m very happy to win five times, and Mathieu (his co-driver Mathieu Baumel) four… Sorry, Mathieu!

“We did not should assault like loopy. We managed to get by the second week and win the Dakar on the finish, that is what actually issues.”

Loeb gave it all he could as he won a record six successive stages in the second week. But the 48-year-old Frenchman had lost so much time on the first part of the race that it was a lost cause.

“After the start of the Rally we had we couldn’t hope for higher than this,” said Loeb.

“Nasser was so constant that he was unbeatable, he produced a superb efficiency with none errors.”

Moraes — whose co-driver Timo Gottschalk was Al-Attiyah’s partner in his first win in 2011 — was proud as punch to be the first Brazilian to finish in the top three.

“It was necessary for the rally group in Brazil as a result of it had by no means occurred earlier than,” he said.

“I’m going to have fun with all of the Brazilian photographers.”

– ‘Incredible’ –

The car category may not have had a lot of suspense about it but the motorbike title race more than made up for it with plenty of thrills and spills.

Benavides, the 2021 champion, edged out Australian Toby Price by 43 seconds with Skyler Howes of the United States finishing third. 

Benavides — who celebrated his 34th birthday during the race — trailed two-time champion Price by 12 seconds entering Sunday’s 14th and final stage.

He produced a sterling ride to win the stage, however, and post a time 55 seconds faster than his 35-year-old rival.

Benavides win will be a popular one, as he showed selflessness in stopping to aid a stricken rival Matthias Walkner in Saturday’s penultimate stage. 

“It’s unbelievable to drag off the win on the finish of this utterly loopy Dakar, and with such a small hole,” said Benavides.

“I’m additionally the primary to win with two completely different bike manufacturers, and that makes me very proud.”

It brought to an end a fascinating battle for supremacy in the motorbike section which had seen Howes lead for six days.

Price could not hide his disappointment, despite praising Benavides for doing a ‘great job’.

– ‘Dream come true’ –

“Yeah, arduous to take for the time being, however on the finish of the day I’m going residence in a single piece and we received a Dakar trophy,” he said. “It hurts a little bit bit.”

For his part, Howes was ecstatic.

“How may I be something however completely happy?” said Howes, who became the fifth American to finish in the top three.

“You can all the time look again and say ‘Aw, man, perhaps I may’ve saved this right here and right here’, however we’re on the end safely, and I’m on the rostrum.

“It’s such a dream come true and an honour to share the podium with two legends like Toby and Kevin. It’s the most unreal feeling.” 

Several of the title contenders had bowed out alongside the best way together with final 12 months’s British winner Sam Sunderland, who received no additional than the primary stage. 

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