Toyota Gazoo Racing SA’s Nasser Al-Attiyah grabbed the win on Stage 12 of Dakar 2018, cementing his third place in the general rankings. Peugeot’s Carlos Sainz had to settle for ninth on the day, but retained his overall lead.
Peugeot’s Stephane Peterhansel was second on the day (to stay second overall), while South Africa’s Giniel de Villiers snatched third to remain in fifth overall. Toyota’s Bernhard Ten Brinke stayed in fourth in the general standings after finishing the twelfth stage in fifth.
“The stage worked out perfectly for us,” said Al Attiyah. “We had a great road position, starting the stage as the fifth car on the road. This, together with a great navigating performance by Mathieu [Baumel], made it possible for us to win the stage for Toyota.”
De Villiers, meanwhile, was slowed down by a pair of punctures.
“We actually had a pretty good stage, and were it not for two punctures that cost us more than five minutes, we may well have won the stage,” said De Villiers. “But even so we are happy with our performance today.”
South Africa’s Hennie de Klerk in a South Racing Volkswagen Amarok finished Stage 12 in 30th place, seeing him climb to 29th position overall. Lucio Alvarez, with South African navigator Rob Howie beside him in a Hilux, posted the 11th-fastest time on the twelfth stage, which keeps him in 11th overall.
Stage 12:
- N. Al-Attiyah (Toyota) 05:49:57
- S. Peterhansel (Peugeot) +02:03
- G. De Villiers (Toyota) +04:33
- O. Terranova (X-Raid) +05:56
- B. Ten Brinke (Toyota) +07:53
- M. Hirvonen (X-Raid) +12:15
- S. Al Qassimi (PH Sport) +12:33
- J. Przygonski (X-Raid) +14:51
- C. Sainz (Peugeot) +18:07
- C. Despres (Peugeot) +21:37
Overall:
- C. Sainz (Peugeot) 42:24:31
- S. Peterhansel (Peugeot) +00:44:41
- N. Al-Attiyah (Toyota) +01:05:55
- B. Ten Brinke (Toyota) +01:17:21
- G. De Villiers (Toyota) +01:26:31
- J. Przygonski (X-Raid) +02:51:02
- S. Al Qassimi (PH Sport) +03:20:45
- M. Prokop (MP-Sports) +07:04:26
- P. Van Merksteijn (Toyota) +07:10:59
- S. Halpern (South Racing) +09:01:05
