The scenery may have changed, but the lead characters in the Dakar Rally remain the same. Cars Nasser Al-Attiyah produced another stellar performance
ADVERTISEMENTThe scenery may have changed, but the lead characters in the Dakar Rally remain the same.
Cars
Nasser Al-Attiyah produced another stellar performance to clinch his fifth stage victory this edition.
The Qatari Mini driver came in 27 seconds ahead of Orlando Terranova and 39 ahead of Giniel de Villiers over the 194-kilometre course between Salta and Termas Rio Hondo, Argentina.
Al Attiyah now holds a commanding 29 minute and 1 second overall lead over de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz.
Now, only an accident or a mechanical problem would prevent him from taking the overall victory in Buenos Aires.
Bikes
Moving over to the bikes now, Spain was the day’s big winner.
Honda rider Joan Barreda won stage 11, but his compatriot KTM rider Marc Coma was the bigger champion.
The title holder and four-time winner of the event took sixth place in the stage, but extended his overall lead. This was thanks, in part, to the 16-minute penalty handed to Paolo Gonçalves, who lies in second overall, 21 minutes and 12 seconds behind Coma.