2018 Dakar Rally: Stage 3 win for Al-Attiyah, overall lead for Peterhansel

Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa) was the fastest driver on Stage 3 (Pisco – San Juan de Marcona) of the 2018 Dakar Rally, taking his second stage victory in three days. Thanks to this stage win, the Qatari driver of the #301 Toyota Hilux progressed from the fifth place overall to the third place after three days.

A new overall leader is Stephane Peterhansel (Team Peugeot Total). He has an advantage of 3 minutes and 11 seconds ahead of his Peugeot teammate Cyril Despres. Al-Attiyah is 7.43 minutes behind Peterhansel after three days.

Nasser Al-Attiyah clinched his second stage victory in three days

Today’s stage was 296 kilometers long and featured mostly sand dunes, same as the first two stages. Al-Attiyah needed 3 hours 9.08 minutes for the stage, 4.05 minutes less than Peterhansel.

Carlos Sainz was the third-fastest in the #303 Peugeot 3008 DKR, 6.07 minutes behind Al-Attiyah. Peugeot drivers Cyril Despres (7.43 min) and Sebastien Loeb (8.34 min) completed the top 5 today.

Sebastien Loeb is fourth after three days

In the overall classification after three days, the leading trio Peterhansel/Despres/Al-Attiyah is followed by Sebastien Loeb and Giniel de Villiers (Toyota). Carlos Sainz is sixth, ahead of Bernhard ten Brinke (Toyota) who already has a 31-minute gap behind the leader. Orlando Terranova (X-Raid Mini), Martin Prokop (MP Sports Ford) and Nani Roma (X-Raid Mini) are completing the Top 10.

On Tuesday, January 9, a loop stage is on schedule with start and finish in San Juan de Marcona. The competitive section of the stage is 330 kilometers long.