Dakar SS11: Loeb down the wire

Sébastien Loeb © Red Bull

Wins Friday’s stage by 18 seconds but Peterhansel still leads Dakar overall.

The last long drive, the last sand dunes – and the last chance to make an impression at Dakar Rally 2017. Friday saw competitors cover 759 kilometres from San Juan to Rio Cuarto in Argentina.

 

With Saturday’s final stage only 64km long, there shouldn’t be much room for any major upset before the finish in Buenos Aires. But Sébastien Loeb sent a strong message to his French rival nonetheless…

Car
Having won Thursday’s stage, Stéphane Peterhansel opened the road three minutes before Loeb. But the rally-like tracks of the Córdoba area seemed to suit Loeb, a man with nine WRC world titles, and he overtook his teammate early in the day to win in Rio Cuarto. Orly Terranova completed Friday’s podium (+6’37) with Toyota driver Giniel de Villiers in fourth (+7’01).

But Loeb’s 18-second lead is not enough to pass Peterhansel in the overall standings. “Mister Dakar

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