Grapevine: Rankings: Dakar win boosts Al-Attiyah

The Volkswagen driver took advantage of suspension problems for his team-mate Carlos Sainz to become the first Qatari driver to win the event and assume the advantage.

The EDGE Race for 2011 is a new addition to the Castrol Rankings this year. Unlike the Rankings, which measures driver performance over a rolling 52-week period, the Race only includes scores amassed during 2011.

Al-Attiyah therefore holds the number one spot in the Race, while his Rankings position has also benefitted hugely. His victory moved him up 217 places to 194th place.

Giniel de Villiers finished second on the Dakar, 49 minutes behind Al-Attiyah, but actually scored less Castrol Rankings points than Sainz, who dropped to third by the finish. This is because he set just one stage fastest time compared to the Spaniard's seven.

Sainz and De Villiers entered the Castrol Rankings in 688th and 705th positions and also hold second and third in the EDGE Race for 2011 at the same time.

The X-Raid team's best showing came from Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel, whose hopes were dashed by numerous punctures.

Peterhansel (816) and his Polish BMW team-mate Krysztof Holowczyc (879) finished fourth and fifth while Mark Miller (905) completed the top six. All three entered the Castrol Rankings for the first time.

Expected front-runners Robby Gordon (301) and Guerlain Chicherit both retired, American Gordon still managing to climb 11 places while Chicherit entered at 1845th.

To see the full Castrol Rankings and the latest positions in the Race for 2011, please visit www.castroldriverrankings.com.