Former World Rally champion Carlos Sainz moved into the lead of the Dakar Rally after winning Wednesday’s fourth stage of the event.
The Spanish driver, fourth at the start of the day, completed the 657km special from San Juan to Chilecito in over five hours and 20 minutes.
Sainz, driving the SMG Buggy, beat day-two leader Stephane Peterhansel by over six minutes and Nasser Al-Attiyah by nearly nine.
Sainz won the stage despite finishing the day without power steering in his buggy.
Argentine Federico Villagra was fourth in the stage, while yesterday’s leader Nani Roma lost the lead of the event after finishing over 14 minutes behind Sainz.
The Spaniard, however, is second overall, just over two minutes behind Sainz.
Al-Attiyah is third ahead of Orlando Terranova and Peterhansel, 18 minutes behind the leader.
Tomorrow’s stage from Chilecito to Tucuman will be longest of the rally, with 912km to cover, 527 of those timed.
Leading stage four times: Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap 1. Carlos Sainz SMG Buggy 5h20m32s 2. Stephane Peterhansel X-raid Mini +6m04s 3. Nasser Al-Attiyah X-raid Mini +8m58s 4. Federico Villagra X-raid Mini +13m19s 5. Nani Roma X-raid Mini +14m08s 6. Orlando Terranova X-raid Mini +16m04s 7. Giniel de Villiers Imperial Toyota +24m49s 8. Christian Lavieille Haval +26m59s 9. Pascal Thomasse MD Buggy +33m37s 10. Aidyn Rakhimbayev Hilux Toyota +34m08s Leading overall positions after stage four: Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap 1. Carlos Sainz SMG Buggy 14h52m47s 2. Nani Roma X-raid Mini +2m06s 3. Nasser Al-Attiyah X-raid Mini +6m56s 4. Orlando Terranova X-raid Mini +13m08s 5. Stephane Peterhansel X-raid Mini +18m10s 6. Giniel de Villiers Imperial Toyota +39m10s 7. Christian Lavieille Haval +46m20s 8. Federico Villagra X-raid Mini +47m12s 9. Krzsyztof Holowczyc X-raid Mini +1h07m00s 10. Darek Dabrowski Hilux Toyota +1h18m44s
