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Dakar 2017: Nasser Al-Attiyah forced to retire with damage

Nasser Al-Attiyah has been forced to retire from the Dakar Rally following the damage his car suffered during Wednesday's third stage of the event.

The Qatari, the Dakar winner in 2011 and 2015, ripped a wheel off his Toyota after hitting a hole on Wednesday, losing over two hours to stage winner Stephane Peterhansel.

"It was a mistake," said Al-Attiyah after the stage. "It's bad luck, but this is the race; this is how the Dakar is.

"We were doing a really good job, we were leading, but there you go.

"It will be a long year to wait [for another attempt at the event]."

The Toyota driver was expected to remain in the rally, but on Thursday it was announced that the damage to his car was too extensive to continue.

Al-Attiyah's withdrawal, and the problems suffered by Giniel de Villiers on Wednesday, means Nani Roma is the only Toyota driver still in contention, the Spaniard 13 minutes behind leader Sebastien Loeb.

Zdroj: autosport.com