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Peterhansel wins Dakar stage 11, Sainz holds healthy lead

Stephane Peterhansel set the pace in the penultimate stage of the 2020 Dakar Rally, but X-raid Mini stablemate Carlos Sainz Sr retains a healthy lead ahead of the marathon's finale

Sainz had to open the road in the 235-mile timed special within the stage, taking the competition back to Haradh from Shubaytah.

He consequently gave up nearly five minutes to Peterhansel in the first 62 miles as he navigated the dunes of the Rub' Al Khali, but would limit the damage over the rest of the special, ending up eight minutes slower than the stage winner at the finish.

This will still allow Sainz to have 10 minutes in hand for the final 232-mile Haradh - Qiddiya test on Sunday.

Peterhansel looked set to overtake Toyota driver Nasser Al-Attiyah for second place for much of the stage, but a late charge from the reigning champion saw him come up just 10 seconds short of a stage win.

This means that that Al-Attiyah will enter the marathon finale as Sainz's nearest rival and with a six-second gap to Peterhansel, who will be running ahead on the road.

Local driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi is poised to finish a career-best fourth in his Toyota after a seemingly straightforward stage, whereas his long-time fifth-place counterpart Orlando Terranova has dropped down the order.

Mini driver Terranova was over half an hour off the pace, and has been overtaken by the two Toyotas of Giniel de Villiers and Bernhard ten Brinke in the general classification.

He is now on course to finish seventh ahead of Century buggy driver Mathieu Serradori.

Pierre Lachaume, who entered the day in 10th place in the PH Sport-run privateer Peugeot, crashed out less than 62 miles from the end of the stage and exited the rally.

Fernando Alonso was placed 56th in the running order after his roll on Thursday, and has yet to complete the stage.

He is not in contention to pick up a maiden stage win, having given up 10 minutes to Al-Attiyah in the early section.

Stage 11 leading times

Pos Driver Team Car Gap
1 Stephane Peterhansel Bahrain JCW X-Raid Team Mini/BMW 4h14m11.s
2 Nasser Al-Attiyah Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota 10.s
3 Carlos Sainz Bahrain JCW X-Raid Team Mini/BMW 8m03.s
4 Bernhard Ten Brinke Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota 10m14.s
5 Jakub Przygonski Orlen X-Raid Team Mini/BMW 10m39.s
6 Giniel de Villiers Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota 12m14.s
7 Yazeed Al-Rajhi Overdrive Toyota Toyota 15m14.s
8 Wei Han Geely Auto Shell Lubricant Team Hanwei/Geely 18m53.s
9 Mathieu Serradori SRT Racing Century/? 23m14.s
10 Martin Prokop MP Sports Ford 27m18.s

Overall leading times

Pos Driver Team Car Gap
1 Carlos Sainz Bahrain JCW X-Raid Team Mini/BMW 41h37m51.s
2 Nasser Al-Attiyah Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota 10m17.s
3 Stephane Peterhansel Bahrain JCW X-Raid Team Mini/BMW 10m23.s
4 Yazeed Al-Rajhi Overdrive Toyota Toyota 47m57.s
5 Giniel de Villiers Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota 1h06m34.s
6 Bernhard Ten Brinke Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota 1h17m50.s
7 Orlando Terranova X-Raid Team Mini/BMW 1h26m44.s
8 Mathieu Serradori SRT Racing Century/? 1h52m32.s
9 Wei Han Geely Auto Shell Lubricant Team Hanwei/Geely 3h45m07.s
10 Jerome Pelichet Raidlynx Optimus/MD 3h55m35.s
11 Martin Prokop MP Sports Ford 4h02m28.s
12 Vaidotas Zala Agrorodeo Mini/BMW 5h48m51.s
13 Benediktas Vanagas General Financing Team Pitlane Toyota 6h58m52.s
14 Miroslav Zapletal Offroad Kazakhstan Ford 7h23m26.s
15 Jakub Przygonski Orlen X-Raid Team Mini/BMW 8h31m21.s
16 Ronan Chabot Overdrive Toyota Toyota 10h23m47.s
17 Erik van Loon Overdrive Toyota Toyota 11h29m06.s

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