2018 Dakar Rally: Stage 4 win for Loeb, Peterhansel defended his lead
Sebastien Loeb was the fastest driver in the fourth stage of 2018 Dakar Rally. The stage started and ended in San Juan de Marcona, with 330 competitive kilometers over sand dunes between those two spots. For the driver of the #306 Peugeot 3008 DKR, it’s the first stage victory in the 40th edition of Dakar Rally and his tenth stage win since he made a debut at Dakar Rally in 2016.
Team Peugeot Total scored a 1-2-3 victory at Stage 4. Loeb needed 3 hours 57.53 minutes for 330 kilometers. Carlos Sainz was 1.35 minutes slower than Loeb. The overall rally leader Stephane Peterhansel was the third-fastest, 3.16 minutes behind Loeb, defending his lead after four days.
Despite scoring no stage wins so far, Stephane Peterhansel is a rally leader after four days
The big problems hit some of the front-runners during the Stage 4. Cyril Despres (Peugeot) and Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota), who were second and third in the general classification after Stage 3, dropped down in the standings after they stuck in a desert. Two other Toyota Gazoo Racing SA drivers, Giniel de Villiers and Bernhard ten Brinke, also had a bad day.
All that problems promoted X-Raid’s Mikko Hirvonen (#305 Mini John Cooper Works Buggy) to fourth place at Stage 4, ahead of Eugenio Amos (#335 2WD Buggy SMG).
Nasser Al-Attiyah is almost one hour behind Peterhansel in overall classification after four days
In the overall standings after four days, Peterhansel leads with 6 minutes 55 seconds advantage over Loeb. Carlos Sainz is 13.06 minutes behind. Nasser Al-Attiyah dropped from third to fourth but he’s now almost one hour (58.48 min) behind Peterhansel.
Bernhard ten Brinke is fifth after four days, ahead of Eugenio Amos, Khalid Al-Qassimi, Giniel de Villiers, Martin Prokop and Jakub Przygonski.
Cyril Despres stopped with damaged suspension and he had to wait for assistance.
Check the full results of Stage 4
The Stage 5 (San Juan de Marcona – Arequipa) will offer a different route for cars and trucks compared to route for bikes and quads. The competitors in car category will have to master the special stage of 268 kilometers and liasion section of 666 kilometers.
