Nasser Al-Attiyah puts pressure on leader Carlos Sainz

After six stages in the Atacama Desert, the hierarchy among the three Volkswagen drivers - who hold on to the three top spots in the standings - remains unclear.

Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah proved during the ninth stage between Copiapo and La Serena that he had no intention of handing the Dakar 2010 title to his Spanish teammate Carlos Sainz, who is currently leader.

Al-Attiyah clinched the stage victory six minutes ahead of “El Matador”. He now has five more stages until the finish line in Buenos Aires to try and close the nine-minute gap in the overall standings.

Third stage win for Marc Coma

In the motorcycle race, Spanish biker Marc Coma (KTM) claimed his third victory of this epic race. However, Coma can no longer go for the title as he earned a six-hour penalty due to an irregular tyre change in the seventh stage.

France’s Cyril Despres (KTM), who came in second today, still holds on to the overall top spot with a comfortable lead of one hour and twenty minutes over second-placed Pal Anders Ullevalster (KTM) in the standings.

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