Dakar Rally 2016: Sainz wins stage 9

The ninth stage of this year’s Dakar rally was set in the town of Belen in Argentina. The route was one of the shortest in the race but not one of the easiest since the participants had to battle very tough terrain and high temperatures. This particularly affected the bike and quad category but also the cars and trucks class. In light of the high number of competitors in difficult and hard conditions, race organizers made the logical decision and stopped the race at CP2 earlier today. This means that all of the participants had raced just about half of the planned distance (around 110 km) today.

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Carols Sainz in his Peugeot 2008 DKR at Belem

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Al Attiyah fastest in CP1

Qatari driver Nasser Al Attiyah was the fastest after mastering crossing the dunes and navigating trough the desert in Cp1. He finished the first part of the 9th stage with 10 seconds ahead of Leeroy Poulter and 27 second over Hirvonen. The Peugeot drivers were all over a minute behind in first part of the stage.

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Nasser Al-Attiyah fastest on first part of stage 9

Stage 9 was won by Sainz and Al Attiyah finished 5th

However, by the end of the 9th stage, the situation changed and Peugeot team moved in front of the grid. After the trouble in CP1, Carlos Sainz won the CP2 with perfect driving and best time. Mini team drivers, Erik Van Loon and Hirvonnen were second and third with 10 and 17 seconds difference, behind the Spaniard. Al Attiyah finished fifth, two minutes behind Sainz.

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