Dakar – Loeb wins in San Juan de Marcona, de Villiers new leader

Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena have proven that we will indeed have to reckon with them and with the Peugeot 3008 DKR – PH Sport. The nine-time world rally champion tandem won at the end of the 342 km against the clock this Tuesday, between Pisco and San Juan de Marcona, finish of the second stage of the 2019 Dakar.

The Frenchman, however, did not get the best start on this day, leaving Carlos Sainz (Mini), outgoing winner, got off to a good start until WP1, but the Spaniard lost time after a puncture before WP2 and was never able to recover the four minutes dropped in this sector.

Still in the leading trio until WP3, Loeb finally took the lead in WP4, at which point Stéphane Peterhansel (Mini), who had taken the lead in the special, lost big, stopping around twenty of minutes.

“I planted myself up to my neck in a dune, comments “Monsieur Dakar”. Without the help of Cyril (Despres) who pulled me out with a rope, I think I would still be there. We waste a lot of time, but we're here and we're happy to be there. »

From then on, Loeb will widen a gap which will culminate at almost two minutes over Nani Roma (Mini) in WP8. But the Spaniard did not give up and came back like a cannonball on Loeb, only to fail eight short seconds of the Peugeot 3008 DKR on the finish line.

First stage victory on the @dakar 2019! We promised you that we would attack today. More information to come. #Dakar #Redbull #Bardahl #StarEarth #BFGracing #CrosiEurope #FrayMedia #Sparco pic.twitter.com/vTpoB5YFMu

- Sébastien Loeb (@SebastienLoeb) 8th January 2019

Bernhard Ten Brinke (Toyota) a réalisé une solide journée ce mardi et empoche la troisième place à 1’20 » de Loeb, 11″ devant l’un de ses chefs de file chez Toyota, Giniel de Villiers.

The South African, in the lead in WP2, was unable to stay in the immediate wake of Loeb and Roma, but consoled himself by taking control of the race, with a 28″ lead over Ten Brinke. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Mini) finished at 2'33" and ahead of Cyril Despres (Mini) and Harry Hunt (Peugeot). Carlos Sainz concedes 4'40" at the finish.

Nicolas Fuchs (Proto FRT) and Vladimir Vasilyev (Mini) complete the provisional top 10 at 5'01" and 5'36", just ahead of Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota), ranked 11th at 7'37". Stéphane Peterhansel (Mini) crossed the line 15'09" behind.

In the general classification, Giniel de Villiers therefore takes power with a 28″ lead over Bernhard Ten Brinke and a 42″ margin over Nani Roma. Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Sébastien Loeb complete the provisional top 5 at 50″ and 1’56”, the PH Sport driver largely reducing his waste of time yesterday, after a cautious start.

Followed by Sainz, at 2'28", Hunt, Al-Attiyah (at 3'26"), Despres (at 3'28") and Vasilyev for the top 10. Peterhansel provisionally appears in 13th place at 13'55". Note that Orlando Terranova, victim of back pain, was transferred to hospital and must obviously give up.

Tomorrow, the competitors will head towards Arequipa, with 331 km of timed sectors on the menu, via the Acari dunes.