Dakar Stage 12: Hirvonen takes stage win, Perterhansel closes in on title

At the penultimate stage of the 2016 Dakar Rally, the 481km timed rally stage between San Juan and Villa Carlos Paz in Argentina, Mikko Hirvonen took his Mini to his first stage victory.

Cars: On his Dakar debut, the Finn, Mikko Hirvonen brought his Mini to the finish of the penultimate stage of this years Dakar rally to claim his first stage victory after driving for 5 hrs 34 mins, 17 seconds, the Finn checked in 9 seconds ahead of Al-Attiyah with South Africa's Leeroy Poulter third, 45sec behind the stage winner.

The Dakar Rally legend with 6 bike titles and 5 car titles to his name, the Frenchman, Stephane Peterhansel has closed in on his 12 Dakar victory, despite finishing 10th in stage. Peterhansel now stands on top of the overall leader board with a lead of 40 mins, 59 secs over defending champion Al-Attiyah.

The WRC legend, Sebastian Loeb, finished the stage in 8th place. The 9 time WRC champion, in the overall standings stands in 9th place 2 hrs, 29 mins behind Peterhansel.

Bikes: Hélder Rodrigues took stage victory when the Argentinian rider checked in 4 mins, 32 secs over the overall class leader, Toby Price who finished 2nd. Benavides finished 3rd on Fridays stage behind Price to stay in 4th place in class overall.

Antoine Meo, crashed and fell 20 kms before the stage finishline which dropped him down to 6th overall.

Quads:  Marcos Patronelli won his 3rd stage in the rally with his win on Friday. The Argentinian Quad rider extended his overall Quad category lead standing 4 mins 23 seconds over his brother Alejandro. the Patronelli bothers now lead the standings 1st and 2nd over the Russian Yamaha rider Karyakin who stands 3rd overall just under 2 hours behind the Argentinian siblings.

Also Read: Dakar Stage 11: Al Attiyah wins stage, Loeb second