2018 Dakar Rally - Stage 11: Surprise victory for Bernhard Ten Brinke

Bernhard ten Brinke (Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa) wins the Stage 11 of 2018 Dakar Rally what was his first stage victory on this year’s edition of world’s fastest cross country race and the second stage win in his Dakar career.

Ten Brinke needed 4 hours 10min54sec for 280 kilometers of the special stage around the city of Fiambala. He was 4min35sec faster than second-placed Cyril Despres (Team Peugeot Total).

Rally leader Carlos Sainz (Peugeot) was the third fastest, just five seconds behind Despres, defending his overall lead after eleven stages. Stephane Peterhansel (Peugeot) was ten seconds slower than Sainz today, staying in the second place of the overall classification. Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota) was about a minute slower then Peterhansel, staying behind him on P3 in the overall standings.

Carlos Sainz is an overall leader after eleven stages

After eleven stages and with three more special stages on a schedule, Sainz’s advantage over Peterhansel is 50 minutes 45 seconds. Three Toyota drivers (Nasser Al-Attiyah, Bernhard ten Brinke and Giniel de Villiers) are following Peugeot veterans.

Jakub Przygonski (Orlen X-Raid Mini) stayed in the sixth place after eleven stages, approximately half an hour in front of Khalid Al-Qassimi (PH Sport Peugeot). All other Top 10 drivers stayed in the same positions as yesterday: Martin Prokop (8th), Peter Van Merksteijn (9th) and Sebastian Halpern (10th).

Check the full results after Stage 11

After finishing today’s special stage, competitors went to Chilecito where tomorrow’s stage will start. It would be the longest stage with 523 kilometers of timed section, ending in San Juan.

Photos: Aurelien Vialatte/@world, Florent Gooden/DPPI,