Dakar 2018: Peugeot's Sainz edges closer to second Dakar Rally win while Walkner, Casale and Nikolaev keep KTM, Yamaha and Kamaz top in bike, quad and truck class

Peugeot's Carlos Sainz looks set to take his second Dakar Rally win while Matthias Walkner, Ignacio Casale and Eduard Nikolaev look set to keep KTM, Yamaha and Kamaz at the top of the bike, quad and truck classes, respectively.

Carlos Sainz is looking set for his first Dakar Rally win since 2010. (PHOTO: Eric Vargiolu/DPPI)

KTM's Matthias Walkner looks set to give the Austrian brand yet another Dakar win. (PHOTO: Eric Vargiolu/DPPI)

Yamaha's Ignacio Casale sits atop the quad class. (Florent Gooden/DPPI)

Kamaz's Eduard Nikolaev is in command of the truck class. (PHOTO: Eric Vargiolu)

Nasser Al-Attiyah took his 31st stage win that puts him equal with Sainz for the most Dakar Rally stage wins among car drivers. The Spaniard did not push hard today and finished the special almost 20 minutes behind the winner, but more importantly at the top of the general standings.

It was an opportunity for lesser-known drivers to grab the spotlight, such as second placed finisher Lucio Álvarez, whilst Stéphane Peterhansel lost more than one hour and slid off the podium in the general standings due to crashing his 3008 into a tree, which broke his power steering.

Bernhard ten Brinke will not climb onto the podium either, because he exited the race when his Toyota broke down, in the midst of a battle for the stage victory.

WALKNER LEADS AS PRICE WINS

Toby Price did his utmost to leapfrog Honda's Kevin Benavides and even gun for his KTM team-mate and rally leader Walkner. Though the Australian won his second consecutive stage, in the end he was unable to open up sufficient enough gaps to shake the order in the top three of the general standings, which are very unlikely to change before the finish tomorrow in Córdoba.

The classification is also virtually carved in stone in the quad category thanks to the 1 hour and 37 minute lead held by Ignacio Casale over Argentinean rookie Nicolás Cavigliasso. If Casale wins, it will be the Chilean's second win after triumphing in the 2014 edition.

NIKOLAEV BREATHES EASY

In the truck category, Nikolaev can breathe easy now that Federico Villagra of IVECO has been forced to retire due to mechanical issues. Nikolaev had lost the overall lead to Villagra but in trying to keep the Kamaz driver behind him, the IVECO was unable to hold together and make it to the finish.

Nikolaev holds almost a four hour lead over the remaining truck participants.