Peterhansel wins Dakar Rally's third stage

World
Europe

Stephane Peterhansel won the third stage of the Dakar Rally on Wednesday as the Frenchman's X-raid Mini teammate Carlos Sainz saw his hopes of defending his title all but disappear.

Peterhansel, a 13-time Dakar champion, endured a tight battle with Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah before racing clear in the latter stages of the 331km timed section between San Juan de Marcona and Arequipa.

The Frenchman crossed the finish line in three hours 54 minutes and 31 seconds, three minutes and 26 seconds ahead of Toyota driver Al-Attiyah.

Jakub Przygonski was third, 11 minutes and 47 seconds further back.

Sainz lost more than three hours after damaging his car's front-left suspension and wheel early in the stage, leaving him among the stragglers in the overall standings.

Driver Carlos Sainz of Spain (front) and co-driver Lucas Cruz of Spain work on their Mini after it broke down during the third stage of the Dakar Rally between San Juan de Marcona and Arequipa, Peru, January 9, 2019. /VCG Photo

Nine-time world rally champion Sebastian Loeb, the winner of Tuesday's second stage, also encountered problems on Wednesday and finished 42 minutes behind Peterhansel.

Al-Attiyah leads overall, almost seven minutes ahead of X-raid Mini's Yazeed Al Rajhi of Saudi Arabia. Poland's Jakub Przygonski is third, 11 minutes and 47 seconds off the pace.

(Cover: Mini's driver Stephane Peterhansel (R) of France is congratulated by Toyota's driver Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar at the end of Stage 3 of the Dakar 2019 between San Juan de Marcona and Arequipa, Peru, January 9, 2019. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency