Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah slashed 10-time champion Stephane Peterhansel’s Dakar Rally lead by over eight minutes on Thursday as the 2011 winner stormed to victory on the sixth stage.
Al-Attiyah started the day at 9min 54sec behind defending champion Peterhansel but finished just 1min 18sec off the overall lead, winning his third stage of this year’s event, a 438km special from Arica to Calama.
The Qatari, in a Buggy, clocked 4hr 52min with Peterhansel, in a Mini, in second spot ahead of American NASCAR driver Robby Gordon, who was nearly 14 minutes behind al-Attiyah.
South Africa’s Giniel de Villiers, driving a Toyota, was sixth to stay third overall, 42 minutes behind the leader.
Al-Attiyah slashes Peterhansel's Dakar lead
