Peugeot’s Stephane Peterhansel triumphed on Stage 10 of Dakar 2018, claiming victory on the day ahead of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Giniel de Villiers.
The stage comprised 373 km of racing, split into two sections, at lower altitudes on soft sand and camel grass, and preceded by a 424 km liaison.
“It was really tough out there today,” said De Villiers. “The dunes in this area are extremely tricky, and the camel grass makes it even worse. It is also extremely tough on the body, and we’re glad to have made it safely to Belen.”
Carlos Sainz of Peugeot took third place on the stage, solidifying his lead in the overall standings. Peterhansel moved back to second overall, with Toyota’s Nasser Al-Attiyah down to third, after suffering a damaged suspension to finish tenth on the day.
Toyota teammate Bernhard ten Brinke got stuck on a dune before suffering a puncture to post the fifth-fastest time on the stage, which puts him in fourth overall, just 33 seconds ahead of De Villiers.
South Africa’s Hennie de Klerk in a South Racing Volkswagen Amarok finished Stage 10 in 31st place, putting him in 28th position overall. Lucio Alvarez, with South African navigator Rob Howie beside him in a Hilux, posted the 11th-fastest time on the tenth stage, which puts him in 11th overall.
Stage 10:
- S. Peterhansel (Peugeot) 04:43:46
- G. De Villiers (Toyota) +08:46
- C. Sainz (Peugeot) +13:07
- S. Al Qassimi (PH Sport) +19:11
- B. Ten Brinke (Toyota) +22:22
- J. Przygonski (X-Raid) +23:42
- C. Despres (Peugeot) +24:30
- O. Terranova (X-Raid) +26:59
- M. Hirvonen (X-Raid) +27:41
- N. Al-Attiyah (Toyota) +29:16
Overall:
- C. Sainz (Peugeot) 32:10:53
- S. Peterhansel (Peugeot) +00:50:35
- N. Al-Attiyah (Toyota) +01:12:46
- B. Ten Brinke (Toyota) +01:22:15
- G. De Villiers (Toyota) +01:22:48
- J. Przygonski (X-Raid) +02:29:11
- S. Al Qassimi (PH Sport) +02:51:46
- M. Prokop (MP-Sports) +04:18:21
- P. Van Merksteijn (Toyota) +05:33:14
- S. Halpern (South Racing) +07:40:39
