Dakar Rally legend Stephane Peterhansel proved too strong for his Peugeot teammates Carlos Sainz and Sebastien Loeb in Friday’s sixth stage around the largest salt flats in the world in Bolivia.
Success for the veteran Frenchman powered him into the overall lead to give him a massive boost in his quest for a 12th success in motorsport’s toughest challenge.
The 50-year-old from Alsace lined up for the 542 kilometre timed run in Uyuni, the longest stage of the rally, eight minutes adrift of nine-time world rally champion Loeb.
But already the winner of Wednesday’s fourth stage he now goes into Saturday’s drive from Uyuni to Salta in Argentina at the head of the pack.
He leads Dakar debutant Loeb, who was hit by a puncture and faulty electrics, by 27sec with Sainz in third at 5min 55sec in an all-Peugeot top three.
Defending Dakar champion Nasser Al-Attiyah, behind the wheel of a Mini, sits fourth, over 15min adrift.
⭐GENERAL RANKING - CARS⭐
1. @s_peterhansel
2. @SebastienLoeb +0'27"
3. @CSainz_oficial +5'55"
#Dakar2016 pic.twitter.com/bwT0l0pyLI
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 8, 2016After a stunning drive in Uyuni where he called on all his vast experience to deal with the tricky terrain, Peterhansel timed 5hrs 1min 7sec to cross the line 17sec clear of Sainz.
Peugeot were destined for their third cleansweep of the race only for late finisher Yazeed Al-Rajhi of Saudi Arabia to grab third (at 7min 19sec) ahead of Loeb.
Peterhansel competed in his first Dakar in 1988, winning the first of his six overall victories on two wheels back in 1991 and taking his 11th victory behind the wheel of a Mini in 2013.
In the bikes category, Tony Price took the day’s honours on a KTM for his third stage win this year.
His teammate Matthias Walkner came in second at 1min5sec ahead of Paulo Goncalves (1min 12sec) but despite losing out the Portuguese Honda rider retained the overall lead.
Price is a little over half a minute away.
