Former WRC champion Carlos Sainz has won the Dakar Rally for the first time after managing to hold off a late challenge from Volkswagen team mate Nasser al-Attiyah of Qatar. The Spanish driver completed the 9000 km loop in 47 hours and 10 minutes, just 2 minutes and 12 seconds ahead of Al-Attiyah. American Mark Miller finished in third (32 min, 51 sec behind Sainz) to complete an all-Volkswagen podium.
Al-Attiyah had cut Sainz’s lead to two minutes 48 seconds after winning the penultimate stage. The Qatari was again fastest in the final 206 km stage from San Rafael to Buenos Aires but it wasn’t enough to overhaul Sainz. The Spaniard, who had led the standings since stage five, accused his team mate of not playing fair after the two collided while battling in Stage 13. “It was a tough and daily fight against my team mate. I knew it would be like that,” he said.
X-Raid BMW drivers completed the top five. Nine-time Dakar winner Stéphane Peterhansel was fourth (2h17’21 behind winner), almost two hours ahead of his team mate and fellow Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit.
Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.
BMW sure win wan
Congrats to Volkswagen, BMW and diesel engines!
There must be something wrong here:
'9000 km loop in 47 hours and 10 minutes'
This would be an average speed of 191km/h.
Even for a diesel this is too fast in my opinion…
BMW were over two hours behind the last of the VW trio. VW on a whole in motorsports is kicking some butt. Seat just trounced BMW in WTCC for two straight years too.
julian,
please open your eyes…vw were conqueres the podium..so bimmer just lost to vw…
the picture above looks like those 2 guys are about to kiss each other
Nice to see king Carlos in a rally again though not a wrc. Impressive stuff for a 49 years old. First wrc driver to to lift the Dakar crown? Late Colin managed to grab the lead few years back in a Nissan but as always he crashed out whilst leading..
congrats vw and sainz. world rally legend.
Mohd, please point out what is wrong here. Don't believe diesel can go that fast? What year do you live? Nowadays, a turbo diesel Skoda can beat the supercharged Cooper S. Wake up man!
aksMs said,
January 19, 2010 @ 4:37 am
'Mohd, please point out what is wrong here. Don’t believe diesel can go that fast?'
I didn't say that a diesel cannot reach 191km/h. But the whole 9000km with 191km/h through a desert of sand and stones?
Otherwise they would'nt be able to do the 9000km in 47hrs…