South African teenager becomes youngest top class driver to win a Dakar Rally stage

AL HENAKIYAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Nineteen-year-old Saood Variawa of South Africa became the youngest top-class driver to win a stage in the Dakar Rally on Tuesday.

The previous record was 22, set last Saturday by American Seth Quintero. Both are competing in the ultimate car category for only the second time.

Variawa and Quintero fought with Toyota teammate Lucas Moraes of Brazil for the lead in the 327-kilometer (203-mile) third stage from Bisha north to Al Henakiyah in the Saudi desert. They were within a minute of each other for at least 200 kilometers.

Moraes was the early pace-setter, Quintero took over in the second half but Variawa nosed ahead over the last 60 kilometers and shrugged off a late puncture.

“I definitely knew we were flying,” Variawa said. “There were a lot of places which could catch you out and end your race. We really took it quite easy in the stuff that was very tricky. François (Cazalet, co-driver) was good with the navigation and we were on point everywhere.”

Variawa was third after the first stage won by Quintero but a collision with countryman Giniel de Villiers on Monday cost him eight hours.

“This is a good comeback,” Variawa said.

Quintero ended up third on the stage and Moraes ninth.

Another South African, Henk Lategan, was 12th and held on to the overall lead.

But five-time champion Nasser Al-Attiyah made up four minutes to sit seven minutes back, and Mattias Ekstrom also closed the gap in third, 9 1/2 minutes behind. Local driver Yazeed Al Rajhi dropped from second overall to fourth in part thanks to a four-minute penalty.

Defending champion Carlos Sainz was forced to withdraw in the morning. He landed on his roof on Sunday and finished the stage on Monday but the damage to the roll cage was too much to be allowed to continue. Sainz won his fourth Dakar title a year ago and at age 62 was competing in his 18th Dakar.

Another multiple world rally champion and title contender, Sebastien Loeb, was barely staying in the race.

He hit a rut early Tuesday and rolled his Dacia but was back driving within five minutes. But then he broke a steering rod, received a spare from a rival, and then his engine fan died which forced him to drive slower. He lost an hour and sat 16th overall.

“Winning the rally is starting to look complicated,” Loeb said.

Daniel Sanders' overall motorbike lead was also slashed. But not as bad as it first appeared.

After the stage the Australian was re-credited nearly five minutes for a faulty navigation program. Instead of finishing 22nd, he was 17th, and instead of being nearly 15 minutes off the pace, he was less than 10.

His overall lead of more than 12 minutes was reduced by Skyler Howes to less than seven minutes. Ross Branch was seven minutes back, and titleholder Ricky Brabec more than nine minutes back.

Lorenzo Santolino of Spain took the stage, the first winner for French brand Sherco in six years. Santolino mostly trailed South Africa's Bradley Cox, whose father Alfie won eight Dakar stages on a bike from 1998-2002.

But Santolino edged ahead over the last 50 kilometers when Cox took a wrong turn. Cox was also relegated from second to 14th after he was penalized six minutes for speeding.

Brabec and Howes were promoted to second and third.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Rider Jerome Martin of Belgium competes during the third stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al-Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A rider competes during the third stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al-Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Honda rider Tosha Schareina of Spain competes during the third stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al-Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

The car of Driver Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Fabian Lurquin is stopped after a crash during the third stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al-Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A car drives during the third stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al-Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 8, 2025--

Partners Capital, a leading global investment firm with over $60B of assets under management on behalf of endowments, foundations, family offices and high net worth individuals, is delighted to announce seven promotions into its senior leadership team including two Partners and five Managing Directors.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250108916808/en/

New Partners

Lenia Ascenso and Leslie Fitzgerald have been promoted to Partner.

Lenia joined Partners Capital in 2021 to establish and lead the Investment Operations function. With 25 years of senior investment operations experience at firms such as NEPC, JP Morgan, and Wellington, she brought invaluable expertise to the team. She is based in our Boston office.

Leslie joined the firm in 2017 from Cambridge Associates and has been an integral part of our Client CIO team overseeing several of our private and institutional clients in North America. She is based in our Boston office.

New Managing Directors

Our five newly appointed Managing Directors represent a wealth of talent from our UK and US teams:

“We are delighted to announce these seven promotions to our global leadership team. Each of these individuals have made significant contributions to our firm in each of their fields alongside being great role models who have helped nurture our people and culture. I look forward to seeing their continued impact as they play a pivotal role in driving our success in the coming years,” said Arjun Raghavan, CEO of Partners Capital.

About Partners Capital

Founded in 2001, Partners Capital is a leading global investment firm acting for distinguished endowments and foundations, senior investment professionals and prominent families across the globe. With $60B+ in assets under management, the firm acts as an investment partner to its clients by constructing and managing customised investment portfolios that tap into its deep network of manager relationships across all major asset classes. The firm employs more than 370 people across its seven offices located in Boston, New York, London, San Francisco, Paris, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Partners Capital Announces the Promotion of Two Partners and Five Managing Directors. (Photo: Business Wire)