ANTOFAGASTA: Russian driver Vladimir Vasilyev maintained defending champions Mini’s monopoly of the Dakar Rally on Thursday, the manufacturer making it five stage wins in five on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

But Carlos Sainz, the 2010 champion, retired from the race after rolling and destroying his troubled Peugeot.

Vasilyev clinched the 458km run from Chile’s Atacama desert, the driest place on earth, to the coastal stop of Antofagasta.

The Toyota of Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Alrajhi was second on the stage -- just 20 seconds behind -- to remain third in the overall standings. The Hummer of America’s Robbie Gordon was third on the day.

Mini’s Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah, the 2011 champion and overall leader, was fourth Thursday with 11-time champion Stephane Peterhansel in a Peugeot a place further back.

For the first time in the 2015 race, South Africa’s 2009 champion Giniel de Villiers failed to finish on the podium. However, the Toyota driver, sixth on the day, remains second overall.

Cyril Despres, a five-time champion on two-wheels, added to Peugeot’s misery when a clutch failure, which cost him four and a half hours on Wednesday, was followed by a barrel-roll which delayed his fifth stage efforts.

Four-time motorcycling winner and defending champion Marc Coma claimed his first stage victory of the 2015 edition, finishing the run to Antofagasta ahead of compatriot and overall leader Joan Barreda.

Published in Dawn January 10th , 2014

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play