In a day filled with misfortune for Polish competitors, Orlen Team’s motorcycle rider, Maciej Giemza, had to abandon the Dakar Rally on the sixth stage due to a hand injury. Meanwhile, Krzysztof Hołowczyc and Łukasz Kurzeja are stranded in the desert, attempting to fix their Mini after a collision.
Giemza, who faced a viral illness during this Dakar edition, had been a standout figure in a previous stage where he assisted two injured motorcyclists. However, his own journey came to an end during the first part of the marathon stage, Chrono, on Thursday, when he suffered an injury to his hand. Despite reaching a makeshift camp in the desert, he was unable to continue the next day. This marked Giemza’s seventh participation in the Dakar Rally, with his best finish being 17th place in 2020.
On the other hand, Hołowczyc, who secured the third position in the Dakar Rally in 2015, encountered a setback on Thursday when his Mini collided with a challenger-class vehicle driven by the renowned British rally driver Kris Meeke. The damage sustained by the Polish team’s Mini was severe enough to prevent them from reaching the designated campsite, forcing them to spend the night alone in the desert.
Satellite location data indicates that the Polish duo’s vehicle remains immobilized, possibly due to unresolved technical issues or the inability of the service team to reach them. Hołowczyc’s troubles began during the second stage when, avoiding a collision with a motorcyclist, he struck a boulder, causing significant damage to the car. While the Polish crew remained unharmed, the incident has since led to discomfort for the driver.
With Saturday scheduled as the only rest day, participants in the Dakar Rally will resume on Sunday with the start of the seventh stage in Riyadh.
Encontro de campeões de ralis na etapa de hoje do Dakar: Kris Meeke e Krzysztof Hołowczyc! pic.twitter.com/CjCXNjBzI0
— joao carlos costa (@jcccomentador) January 11, 2024