DAKAR 2021 STAGE 5 –PETERHANSEL ALWAYS LEADER – VILLIERS WINS

DAKAR 2021 STAGE 5 – The winner of the 2009 Dakar had been rather discreet since the start of the 43rd edition of the famous Rally Raid. Today, Giniel De Villiers has shown that he still has his place as an official driver.

Two-time Dakar champion Nasser Al-Attiyah cut Stéphane Peterhansel’s lead to under five minutes as he sealed a third consectutive stage win. Meanwhile in the bike class, Sam Sunderland was the best placed of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders and truck leader Dmitry Sotnikov ended the day with an advantage of more than 25 minutes.

Al-Attiyah and Peterhansel were closely matched throughout stage four, the former taking the win by a mere 11 seconds at the finish. Afterwards, he said: “It’s been difficult in these early stages to make a big difference but I’m happy.”

Peterhansel admitted he had felt on the edge before arriving in Riyadh as he bids for a 14th title in the event. “It felt risky to be so close to the maximum all day,” he admitted.

His countryman Sébastien Loeb climbed up to fourth overall with another strong showing and credited his car with “having no problems” but Carlos Sainz remains in third spot and a place ahead in the standings.

South African Henk Lategan fractures collar bone in huge crash

After finishing second in Stage 4, debutant Henk Lategan retired from the rally on Thursday with a fractured collarbone after his factory Toyota was involved in an accident just 20km into the stage.

Elsewhere in the car standings, Cyril Despres, Giniel de Villiers and Kuba Przygoński all had consistent performances to keep them in the hunt in the overall standings.

DAKAR 2021 STAGE 5 –PETERHANSEL ALWAYS LEADER DAKAR 2021 STAGE 5 –PETERHANSEL ALWAYS LEADER

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