Pending validation by the race marshalls, French driver Stéphane Peterhansel (BMW) wins his third stage in this year’s Dakar, his 55th stage victory in a Dakar, 1’21 ahead of Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW), and 3’45 ahead of his teammate and countryman Guerlain Chicherit (BMW)… But it is - more importantly - the duel for the final victory between both Volkswagen drivers, Spain’s Carlos Sainz and Al-Attiyah, that has made the headlines in this penultimate stage... After a few contacts on the track between both men, the Qatari had the upper hand and arrived 2’32 ahead of his Spanish rival… Hence, in the general standings, on the eve of arriving in Buenos Aires, Spain’s Carlos Sainz only has a 2’48 (!) lead over Al-Attiyah! The position of US driver Mark Miller (VW) is more comfortable: he is ranking third 31’48 behind the race leadership and keeps guaranteeing a triple victory for Volkswagen… In the Open category, no surprise as US driver Robby Gordon (Hummer) gets here his 12th victory in 13 stages with the 8th fastest scratch time... Finally, in the Production category, Japanese driver Jun Mitsuhashi wins his 9th stage in this 32Nd edition by arriving 4’24 ahead of Spain’s Xavier Foj (Toyota), and 23’47 ahead of French driver Frederic Chavigny (Nissan). In the general standings of this category after stage 13, Japan’s Mitsuhashi now has a 6h35’47 lead over Spain’s Foj (Toyota), and a 14h26’07 lead over France’s Chavigny (Nissan).
Bike
Pending validation by the race marshalls, Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM), who had already finished 8 times second of a special stage, finally wins his first special stage in a Dakar finishing 43" ahead of the leader in the general standings, Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM), and 2’46 ahead of Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM)… Hence, in the general standings, if Despres is now riding towards a well-deserved victory, with a 1h04’12 lead over his closest contender, it remains to be seen who will be this closest contender and second standing next to him on the podium in Buenos Aires. Indeed, by winning with a time of 3h27’05, the Norwegian has stolen 5’35 to Chile’s Francisco Lopez Contardo (Aprilia), and taken the second place in the general standings... Everything will be decided in the last special stage tomorrow for the second place in the general standings just as for the fifth place still held by Frenchman David Frétigné tonight by with just a tiny 3’ lead over Malian-French rider Alain Duclos (KTM)…
Truck
Pending validation by the race marshalls, two-times Dakar winner Russian driver Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) has won his fourth stage on this 2010 Dakar, his 33rd stage victory in total in a Dakar. With a time of 3h38’47, the title holder arrived 1’50 ahead of his teammate and countryman Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) and 23’06 ahead of Czech driver Martin Macik (Liaz) … Nothing to worry about however for Chagin in the general standings as the "Tsar" is leisurely heading towards a sixth Dakar victory with a 1h11’53 lead over his wingman Kabirov, and a 10h37’19 (!) lead over Dutchman Marcel Van Vliet (Ginaf).
Quad
Pending validation by the race marshalls, Frenchman Christophe Declerck (Polaris) has won his third special stage in this 32nd Dakar. With a time of 4h11’32, the Frenchman arrived 5’56 ahead of Polish rider Rafal Sonik (Yamaha), and 27’14 ahead of Argentine rider Sébastian Halpern (Yamaha)... No change however in the general standings where Argentinean Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) is still way ahead in first position with now a 2h23’33 lead on his older brother Alejandro Patronelli (Yamaha), and a 5h08’11 lead on Spanish rider Juan Manuel Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha).
