17 January 2005	Monday	06 Zilhaj 1425

DAKAR, Jan 16: France's Stephane Peter hansel won his second successive Dakar car rally on Sunday to add to his six victories in the motorcycle event, cruising through the short final stage of the race without mishaps.

His compatriot Cyril Despres took the motorcycle crown and said his triumph was also a tribute to KTM team mate Fabrizio Meoni, who died after a crash in Mauritania last week.

The two had vowed in December that one of them would win the race. Peter hansel ended the race 27 minutes 14 seconds ahead in the overall standings of compatriot and fellow Mitsubishi driver Luc Alphand, a former World Cup skier.

After some 9,000 km from Barcelona to Dakar, the 16th and final stage was largely a scenic procession along the side of the Atlantic and round the picturesque Lac Rose lake. - Reuters