Volkswagen Driver Sainz Extends Lead at 'Dakar'

Iquique, Chile, January 8, 2010: Volkswagen continues leading the 2010 Dakar Rally after the sixth of 14 stages with three Race Touareg cars. Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz (E/E), who had taken the lead the day before, extended their advantage in the Race Touareg from 4m 37s to 15m 24s. Their team-mates Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D) continue ranking as the overall runners-up ahead of Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/ZA) in another Race Touareg.

Almost up to the finish of the 418-kilometre stage from Antofagasta to Iquique in Chile’s Atacama desert it looked as though Miller/Pitchford had taken second place overall. However, on the final 25 kilometres their temporary advantage in the overall standings of 3m 19s over Al-Attiyah changed to a gap of 2m 23s behind Al-Attiyah.

Volkswagen, however, also suffered a set-back on the sixth leg: The Brazilian duo Maurício Neves/Clécio Maestrelli retired from the event after rolling over. The driver and co-driver are in good condition considering the circumstances. Maurício Neves was taken to a hospital for a check.