Mitsubishi driver Peterhansel claims hat-trick of Dakar rally victories

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

With the overall victory all but confirmed after Saturday’s final major stage, the Mitsubishi driver cruised home in 51st place in yesterday’s 16-kilometre special stage to take the title by seven minutes 23 seconds from compatriot and team-mate Luc Alphand.

The win makes it a hat-trick of successes for Peterhansel following previous triumphs in 2004 and 2005.

Overall, Jean-Louis Schlesser made it a clean sweep for the French, claiming a distant third behind Peterhansel.

Volkswagen’s Giniel de Villiers took the honours for the stage, the South African racing home in a time of seven minutes 42 seconds.

Team-mate Carlos Sainz narrowly failed to make it four successive stage wins after finishing second, two seconds behind de Villiers, while American Robby Gordon took third for Hummer.

In the bikes, Latvian Janis Vinters won the day with a time of eight minutes 42 seconds, seven seconds ahead of Norwegian Pal Anders Ullevalseter, with Portugal’s Helder Rodrigues third.

But overall it was KTM’s Cyril Depres who secured his second Dakar Rally win, 34 minutes and 19 seconds ahead of fellow Frenchman David Casteu, with Chris Blais of the US third.

Depres was able to amble home in 56th place for the stage in the knowledge that victory was assured following long-time leader Marc Coma’s crash on stage 13.

In the trucks, MAN’s Hans Stacey finished with a massive lead of three hours 10 minutes 52 seconds over his nearest rivals, Russia’s Ilgizar Mardeev and Czech driver Ales Loprais.

It was the Dutchman’s first title though he finished eighth for the stage, more than a minute behind winner Arjan Brouwer who recorded a time of nine minutes and 39 seconds in his GINAF.