France wins both car and motorbike divisions

There was double French delight on the Dakar Rally on Sunday as Stephane Peterhansel won an unprecedented 10th title by winning the cars section and Cyril Despres wrapped up a tight motorbikes category.

Peterhansel, driving a Mini, was previously a three-time car winner and six-time motorcycle champion of the gruelling rally but it was his first victory in the race since it moved to South America in 2009. The Frenchman, who went into the final stage with a 43-minute lead over closest rival Nani Roma of Spain, finished 10th on the 29km special, 3:12 off American Robby Gordon's pace.

Peterhansel covered the 8,400km-long rally, of which more than half were timed specials, between Mar Del Plata in Argentina and Lima in 38hr 54min 46sec, with team-mate Roma at 41:56, and South African Toyota driver Ginel De Villiers at 1.13:25.

Read more: France24 15 Jan

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France leads in Dakar Car Rally both in Car and Motorbike divisions

France looked poised for a French double celebration Saturday as Stephane Peterhansel was on the brink of a 10th Dakar Rally title and Cyril Despres looked certain to win the motorcycling division. The event is due to end Sunday.

Cyril Despres looks virtually certain to make it a French double celebration in Sunday's finale in Lima after he was virtually handed the motorcycling title when closest rival Marc Coma got lost in sand dunes. 

Peterhansel, driving a Mini, finished Saturday's 275km timed stage from Nasca ahead of South Africa's Ginel De Villiers in a Toyota.

[ via Moving Sports ]

Read more: France24
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