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MINI driver Nasser Al-Attiyah continued his march towards 2015 Dakar Rally win by claiming Stage 11 held Thursday.
Although Al-Attiyah took victory, he was only 27 seconds faster than X-raid MINI teammate, Argentine's Orlando Terranova.
South African Giniel de Villiers (Toyota) only lost 39 seconds to Al-Attiyah on the stage, though that keeps him 29 minutes behind the leader in second overall with just two days to go.
Stage 11 was disastrous for Yazeed Al-Rahji who dropped out of third place.
Al-Rahji, a regular competitor in the FIA World Rally Championship, had third place in sight when his Toyota developed a major mechanical problem before he could even get out of the service bivouac.
Al-Rahji's retirement moved Krzysztof Holowczyc up to third overall, one hour behind de Villiers, with Erik van Loon (fourth) making it three MINIs in the overall Top 4.
Overall standings (after Stage 11)
1 Nasser Al-Attiyah, MINI
2 Giniel de Villiers, Toyota, +29m01
3 Krzysztof Holowczyc, MINI, +1h28m49
4 Erik van Loon, MINI, +2h54m09
5 Christian Lavieille, Toyota, +3h04m21
More...
Although Al-Attiyah took victory, he was only 27 seconds faster than X-raid MINI teammate, Argentine's Orlando Terranova.
South African Giniel de Villiers (Toyota) only lost 39 seconds to Al-Attiyah on the stage, though that keeps him 29 minutes behind the leader in second overall with just two days to go.
Stage 11 was disastrous for Yazeed Al-Rahji who dropped out of third place.
Al-Rahji, a regular competitor in the FIA World Rally Championship, had third place in sight when his Toyota developed a major mechanical problem before he could even get out of the service bivouac.
Al-Rahji's retirement moved Krzysztof Holowczyc up to third overall, one hour behind de Villiers, with Erik van Loon (fourth) making it three MINIs in the overall Top 4.
Overall standings (after Stage 11)
1 Nasser Al-Attiyah, MINI
2 Giniel de Villiers, Toyota, +29m01
3 Krzysztof Holowczyc, MINI, +1h28m49
4 Erik van Loon, MINI, +2h54m09
5 Christian Lavieille, Toyota, +3h04m21
More...