German Car Scene

Dakar: Sainz Claims Seventh Stage Win

Posted 19th January, 2007 in Volkswagen | Leave a comment

Volkswagen claimed a one-two on twelfth stage of the Dakar Rally, with factory driver Carlos Sainz (Spain) and co-driver Michel Périn (France) winning the 484 km stage from Ayoun-el-Atrous to Kayes.

They clocked up a lead of 3:53 minutes over their Volkswagen comrades Carlos Sousa/Andy Schulz (Portugal/Germany) who drive a Race Touareg for Lagos-Team. It was Volkswagen’s seventh stage win and the third for double Rally World Champion Carlos Sainz during the 29th running of the “Dakar”. Third position went to the French Mitsubishi driver and last year’s overall winner Luc Alphand.

Even though today’s twelfth stage held many pitfalls in store for the teams because of the tricky navigation and dense, tall bushes, the Volkswagen factory pairing of Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/South Africa) moved up the leader board after finishing eighth today. The duo overhauled two-time “Dakar” winner and Mitsubishi factory driver Hiroshi Masuoka from Japan in the overall standings, and are now best placed Volkswagen team in fifth position. Sousa/Schulz are still seventh, Sainz/Périn moved up one position to ninth. Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (South Africa/Germany) finished the day in twentieth position in their Race Touareg, 25:47 minutes behind the winner owing to a navigational error, but nevertheless still hold twelfth overall. Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi/France) holds the overall lead.

Sainz commented “It wasn’t only the navigation that was demanding today. Driving on the narrow tracks between the trees was anything but easy. Sometimes the bushes covered the track so we had to plough through them, which is why the body is a little scratched. The car ran well. I’m delighted to have set the best time, which should go to the team as they worked fantastically.”

[Source: VW]