France’s Stephane Peterhansel wrapped up his second successive Dakar Rally title on Sunday while compatriot Cyril Despres made it a double French celebration by taking the motorcycle honours in the gruelling event.
The 39-year-old Peterhansel, driving a Mitsubishi, finished 27 minutes and 14 seconds ahead of countryman and former world skiing champion Luc Alphand, also in a Mitsubishi, with ex-champion Jutta Kleinschmidt in third in a Volkswagen, three hours and 22 minutes behind.
Peterhansel, who won four of the 16 stages on this 27th edition of the marathon race, has now added his two car wins to the six motorcycle crowns he picked up in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1998.
Despres, riding a KTM, clinched the motorcycle title for the first time with Spain’s Marc Coma second overall, nine minutes and 17 seconds behind, with South Africa’s Alfie Cox, taking third place, 11 minutes and 29 seconds off the lead.
Sunday’s last stage was a 31km dash around the Senegalese capital and brought the curtain down on this year’s tragedy-hit event, which claimed the lives of five people.
Riders Fabrizio Meoni, a two-time winner, and Jose Manuel Perez both died during the event. Italian Meoni suffered a fatal heart attack after a crash just one day after the death of Spanish rider Perez.
A five-year-old Senegalese girl also died after being crushed beneath the wheels of an event-assistance lorry while two Belgian motorcyclists following the race were killed in a crash east of Dakar.
France’s Bruno Saby, driving a Volkswagen, took the 16th and final stage with a 20-second advantage over compatriot Thierry Magnaldi, in a Honda, while Finland’s former world rally champion Ari Vatenen was third in his Nissan, 57 seconds back.
American rider Kellon Walch, on a KTM, won Sunday’s last stage in a time of 17 minutes and 17 seconds, with Spain’s Isidre Esteve Pujol 52 seconds behind and Dutchman Eric Verhoef in third, a further 55 seconds back. — Sapa-AFP