“Peter” in slow motion, Miller as American star

“I have never seen so many rough tracks,” exclaimed Guerlain Chicherit upon arrival. “They were lousy tracks, not really to my taste,” said Christian Lavieille. The comments of the two best French drivers classified in this special (6th and 13th respectively) were eloquent. This fifth stage, with its 483 km timed, should be approached with moderation.

Is this what caused the rear transmission failure that occurred on Stéphane Peterhansel's BMW X3 CC? Difficult to say, the fact remains that Stéphane and Jean-Paul had to ??mechanize?? on the track for 50 minutes, before driving in two-wheel drive for more than 300 km. Assessment, 2h14? behind, and a fall in the general classification, down to tenth place.

On the Volkswagen side, Giniel De Villiers was once again overwhelmed by problems. The winner of the 2009 Dakar currently occupies a modest 18th place. As for Sainz and Al Attiyah, they each suffered a puncture, while the American Mark Miller was the only one who never stopped on the track.

The American is therefore the fifth different stage winner since the start, no driver having so far won more than once. And this Wednesday evening in Antofagasta, Carlos Sainz was in the lead without having won a special stage. A tactic that often succeeded in the past for Pierre Lartigue or Stéphane Peterhansel?