Carlos 'El Matador' Sainz is the winner of the 2018 Dakar Rally!

The 55-year-old Spanish rally legend Carlos Sainz and his navigator Lucas Cruz are the winners of the 2018 Dakar Rally. It’s the second victory for Sainz in his 11th participation at Dakar Rally. He triumphed in the #303 Peugeot 3008 DKR Maxi after five consecutive retirements in the previous editions from 2013 to 2017.

On the last stage of the rally, which started and finished in Cordoba, Argentina, Sainz defended his lead on the 120-km long timed section. He was the ninth fastest today, finishing the rally with a 43min40sec advantage over Nasser Al-Attiyah (#301 Toyota Hilux, Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa).

Giniel de Villiers was the fastest on the last stage, securing third place overall

Al-Attiyah’s teammate Giniel de Villiers (#304 Toyota Hilux) was the fastest on the last stage of the rally, scoring his first stage win at the event and securing the third place in general standings after fourteen stages.

‘Monsieur Dakar’ Stephane Peterhansel (Team Peugeot Total, #300 Peugeot 3008 DKR Maxi) was the second fastest today and he finished the rally in the fourth place.

Carlos Sainz and Stephane Peterhansel

The Polish rally-raid ace Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski finished fifth overall in the #312 Orlen/X-Raid Mini JCW Rally, improving his career-best overall result in a car category.

Sheikh Khalid Al-Qassimi (PH Sport Peugeot 3008 DKR), Martin Prokop (MP Sports Ford F150), Peter van Merksteijn (Overdrive Toyota Hilux), Sebastian Halpern (South Racing Toyota Hilux) and Lucio Alvarez (Overdrive Toyota Hilux) completed the top 10 in final standings.