Peterhansel defends Dakar title

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.

The Mitsubishi driver ended the rally more than 27 minutes ahead of team-mate Luc Alphand, who came home 12th across the short 31 kilometre special on the banks of the Lac Rose near Dakar.

The stage was won by Volkswagen’s Bruno Saby, who beat Thierry Magnaldi by just 20 seconds, with Nissan’s Ari Vatanen third.

Giniel de Villiers came home fourth followed by Jutta Kleinschmidt, who took third place overall but was more than three hours down on the winner.

De Villiers finished up fourth in the standings with Saby fifth.

American driver Robby Gordon, making his Dakar debut, was 12th overall with four-time winner Vatanen down in 39th.

Peterhansel was already the most successful-ever Dakar competitor and has now notched up his eighth title in 18 participations.

The Frenchman has claimed two car titles as well as six bike championships and is only the second person to win both categories of the event after Hubert Auriol.

Cyril Despres took his first-ever two-wheeled title as he finished the stage in 16th position on his KTM.

The French rider ended with a nine-minute advantage over Spain’s Marc Coma, who came home 13th.

The special was won by Kellon Walch.

The American was 52 seconds faster than Isidre Esteve Pujol with Eric Verhoef third.

South African Alfie Cox took the final podium place as he ended up 10th today, with Esteve Pujol claiming fourth spot overall.

Yamaha rider David Fretigne finished fifth in the standings ahead of Andy Caldecott, the pair coming home sixth and 28th respectively.

Russia’s Firdaus Kabirov was the winner in the truck category.