It was a double victory for Stephane Peterhansel in the Dakar Rally on Friday. Not only did the 11 times champion from France win stage six – a 542
ADVERTISEMENTIt was a double victory for Stephane Peterhansel in the Dakar Rally on Friday.
Not only did the 11 times champion from France win stage six – a 542 km loop around Uyuni in Bolivia – but he also did enough to take the overall race lead from Peugeot teammate and Dakar debutant Sebastien Loeb.
It was Peterhansel’s second stage win this year.
2010 champion Carlos Sainz of Spain was second a slender 17 second off the pace while nine times world rally champion Loeb completed the stage six podium but eight minutes and 15 seconds behind.
Peterhansel leads Loeb overall by a mere 27 seconds.
It was the longest special section of the Dakar this edition and took place between 3,500 and 4,200m in altitude.
Australian Toby Price was lapping up the challenge and celebrated his second consecutive victory and third overall.
Price crossed over first ahead one minute and five second ahead of Austrian Matthias Walkner and 1 minute and 12 seconds clear of Honda rider Paulo Goncalves of Portugual who rounded out the podium.
Goncalves however kept hold of the lead in the general standings 35 seconds in front of Price.