Dakar – The stage for Vasilyev, Sainz abandons

The course of the fifth stage of the 2015 Dakar between Copiapo and Antofagasta in Chile allowed the Russian Vladimir Vasilyev to sign a fifth victory for Mini. Vasilyev quickly moved to the front of the 458 km long special, finishing just twenty seconds ahead of the Saudi Yazeed Al-Rahji (Toyota). Robby gordon (Gordini) completes the top three for this day, 1'25" behind the winner.

The leader of the general classification Nasser Al-Attiyah (Mini) finishes fourth in Antofagasta and widens the gap even further against the South African Giniel de Villiers 6th and who gives up 2'20" on Al-Attiyah. Stephane Peterhansel place his Peugeot 2008 DKR in fifth position today, 4'04" behind Vasilyev. let's remember that Guerlain Chichers saw his Team X-Raid buggy catch fire from the start of the day. Carlos Sainz (Peugeot) was forced abandonned after rolling over at the end of the stage after hitting a stone while following a quad in the dust. The double world rally champion and his co-driver Lucas Cruz are unharmed. Cyril Despres encountered mechanical problems on his 2008 DKR at the start of the stage. In the general classification, Al-Attiyah now has a lead of 10'35" over de Villiers and 20'29" over Al-Rajhi.

The sixth stage will take the competitors from Antofagasta to Iquique, still in Chile, tomorrow.