2018 Dakar Rally: Peterhansel extends lead, Loeb retires at Stage 5

Stephane Peterhansel (Team Peugeot Total) takes the full command at 2018 Dakar Rally after Stage 5, clinching his first stage victory on the event and increasing a lead in the overall standings to more than half an hour ahead of his teammate Carlos Sainz.

2018 Dakar Rally, Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena

The rally is over for Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena

Sebastien Loeb, who was second after four days, retired from the event during today’s stage after he lost few hours stuck in the sand. After all, he reported that his co-driver Daniel Elena has been injured and that they will not continue.

The second-fastest driver on 268-km long Stage 5, from San Juan de Marcona to Arequipa, was Bernhard ten Brinke (Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa) in the #309 Toyots Hilux. He was 4.52 minutes slower than Peterhansel. Giniel de Villiers was the third-fastest today in the #304 Toyota Hilux, ahead of Carlos Sainz and Nasser Al-Attiyah.

Peugeot drivers leads at Dakar Rally

In the overall classification, Peterhansel and Sainz are leading in Peugeot 3008 DKRs, followed by three Toyota drivers – Ten Brinke (1 hour 15.16 minutes behind leader), Al-Attiyah (1:23.21) and De Villiers (1:34.34).

Sheikh Khalid Al-Qassimi (Peugeot 3008 DKR) is sixth after five days, ahead of Eugenio Amos (2WD Buggy SMG), Jakub Przygonski (Mini All4 Racing), Martin Prokop (Ford F150) and Patrick Sireyjol (Buggy LCR30).