This third Dakar in South America was an elimination race between Carlos Sainz and Stephane Peterhansel Nasser Al-Attiyah. Only the latter was spared by the problems.
Sainz was conducted during the first week. He lost his head in his Volkswagen planting on a dune. A similar error three days later was relegated to more than one hour. Peterhansel has in turn been the victim of repeated punctures on his BMW.
Nasser Al-Attiyah has managed to avoid trouble. Qatari allows Volkswagen to win his third consecutive Dakar.
Tripled for the Race Touareg
Volkswagen monopolizes the podium. Nasser Al-Attiyah ahead Giniel de Villiers, who did not have the pace to win but has not made a big mistake. Carlos Sainz finally finished in third place before Stephane Peterhansel.
The rally was marked by the abandonment of Guerlain Chicherit. The French have caused severe damage to his MINI making tons during the rest day.
Mark Miller, the last Volkswagen driver, is the sixth at the finish. He lost time early in the race following an accident.
- Relive all stages of the Dakar 2011
Final
1. Al-Attiyah - Volkswagen
2. De Villiers - Volkswagen - 49'41
3. Sainz - Volkswagen - 1'20'38
4. Peterhansel - BMW - 1'43'48
5. Holowczyc - BMW - 4'11'21
6. Miller - Volkswagen - 4'54'42
7. Leal dos Santos - BMW - 6'50'07
8. Lavieille - Nissan - 7'57'18
9. Spinelli - Mitsubishi - 8'23'37
10. Kahle - SMG - 15h11'56