Defending champion suffers early Dakar exit to conclude horror nine months

Defending champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi is out of this year's Dakar Rally, concluding a wretched nine months for the Saudi Arabian and co-driver Timo Gottschalk.

Heading into the marathon fourth stage to and from AlUla, Toyota driver Al-Rajhi sustained mechanical problems at kilometre 234, and was unable to repair his vehicle.

On this particular stage, drivers are not allowed outside mechanical assistance, leaving Al-Rajhi and Gottschalk stranded. The duo do have the option of continuing on in the event once the stage is concluded, but they are eliminated from the overall standings.

The mechanical failure adds to a difficult period for Al-Rajhi and Gottschalk, who went into this year's Dakar Rally short on race time after the duo were involved in a serious crash in last April's Baja Jordan.

Comfortably leading the event heading towards the end of the second and final stage, Al-Rajhi struck an obstacle at speed. The crash saw him fracture two vertebrae. Gottschalk fractured four vertebrae.