SPAIN’S domination of the first half of the Dakar Rally continued apace yesterday as both former world rally champion Carlos Sainz and Marc Coma won the fourth stage of the car and motorbike disciplines, respectively.

Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel believes rival Carlos Sainz starts favourite for the Dakar Rally which makes its first appearance in South America tomorrow.

Patrice Clerc, president of the Dakar Rally organising body Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), has confirmed the 2009 race will take place in South America.

FRENCHMAN Stephane Peterhansel sealed his third Dakar Rally triumph following yesterday’s 15th and final stage in the Senegalese capital.

TWO days from the arrival in Dakar just as the rally was entering Senegal, the motorbike race was hit by another bombshell yesterday with Marc Coma’s serious crash after only 57 kilometres of the special stage.

FORMER World Rally champion, Carlos Sainz, claimed his third stage victory of the 2007 Dakar Rally as he raced into Kayes almost four minutes ahead of the field.

The 11th stage of the Dakar Rally offered its competitors a well-deserved break from timed action, meaning Mitsubishi’s Stephane Peterhansel retains his lead at the head of the standings with just four stages left to run.

JEAN-LOUIS SCHLESSER finally broke the Volkswagen stranglehold on the 2007 Dakar Rally after winning stage four of the endurance event, but the result was overshadowed by the death of a competitor in the motorbike category.

VOLKSWAGEN driver Giniel de Villiers won the third stage of the Dakar Rally as the German manufacturer continued its dominance of the annual endurance event.

Reigning champion Luc Alphand is looking to join the ranks of motorsport’s elite by claiming victory in the 2007 Dakar Rally, which gets under way in Portugal tomorrow.

Former skiing champion Luc Alphand admitted his relief at winning the Dakar Rally, although the event was overshadowed by three deaths during the race.

Stephane Peterhansel’s chances of a third successive victory in the Dakar Rally suffered a blow when problems to his rear left wheel lost him three hours on stage 12 winner Luc Alphand.

Stephane Peterhansel lost his way on stage 11 of the Dakar Rally but remains on course for a third successive victory.

Former world champion Carlos Sainz reclaimed the lead of the Dakar Rally as Mitsubishi’s bid for a sixth consecutive win hit the skids.

Carlos Sainz kept up his perfect start to the Dakar Rally with a second stage win in Portugal.

Dakar Rally legend Stephane Peterhansel has warned his rivals he is hungry for even more success as he goes looking for a ninth victory on the desert marathon.

Stephane Peterhansel claimed his second successive four-wheeled Dakar title after he finished 11th on the 16th and final stage of the event yesterday.

Stephane Peterhansel claimed his second successive four-wheeled Dakar title after he finished 11th on the 16th and final stage of the event on Sunday.

STEPHANE PETERHANSEL won stage 13 of the Dakar Rally yesterday to extend his overall lead.

The two-wheeled Dakar Rally resumes today after a day of mourning for the late former champion Fabrizio Meoni.

Stephane Peterhansel retained his overall lead in the Dakar Rally today as Giniel de Villiers took victory on stage 12.

The Dakar Rally was today left shocked after one of the event’s legendary riders was killed in an accident.

Alastair Moffitt

Spanish biker Jose Manuel Perez has died following injuries sustained on this year’s Dakar Rally.

DEFENDING champion Stephane Peterhansel moved into the overall lead of the Dakar Rally with his second stage victory on day seven.

Colin McRae will fly back to Britain today after seeing his Dakar Rally hopes disappear in the Saharan dust.

Former world champion Colin McRae is the overall leader in the Dakar Rally, after winning his second special stage on day five between Agadir and Smara.

Former world champion Colin McRae is tonight the overall leader in the Dakar Rally, after winning his second special stage on day five between Agadir and Smara.

Former world rally champion Colin McRae was on course to win his second special stage of the Dakar Rally after dominating day five between Agadir and Smara.

American Robby Gordon won his second special stage on the Dakar Rally to reclaim the overall lead on day four as Britain’s Colin McRae dropped down the order.

Colin McRae has victory in his sights as he prepares for just his second assault on the epic Dakar Rally.

Dakar Rally great Richard Sainct has been killed in a crash in Egypt.

COLIN McRAE followed up his first-ever stage win on the Dakar Rally by taking second place yesterday.

Colin McRae scored his first-ever stage victory on the Dakar Rally today to finally banish memories of his sand dune difficulties.

COLIN MCRAE’S dreams of Dakar Rally glory were lying in tatters last night following a second consecutive mechanical failure.

Drivers of the Paris-Dakar rally are facing a new threat as the race returns to Africa: terrorism.

Colin McRae survived the longest stage yet of the Dakar Rally in an impressive sixth overall today.

Colin McRae will cram three days work into one flat-out blast through the African desert today as he looks to build on a fine start to the Dakar Rally.

Colin McRae proved the desert sands of Africa hold no fear as he recorded a best-yet stage finish of fourth on the Dakar Rally today.

Three-times Dakar Rally winner Richard Sainct has his sights set on another victory when the world’s most famous motorcycle race reaches the capital of Senegal on January 18.

Former world rally champion Colin McRae is excited by the challenge of the 6,800-mile Dakar Rally.

Colin McRae’s 16-year world rally career could come to an end in the Welsh forests next week after he announced today that he is taking a sabbatical from the championship.

Japan’s Hiroshi Masuoka retained his Dakar Rally title after battling through the final stage in Egypt today.