The Mini’s are dominating at Dakar with Nani Roma currently holding a 32min lead over Stephane Peterhansel after Stage 7. The Overdrive Hilux of De Villiers is currently 3rd outright a further 17min back. However on the first day of competition after the rainy rest day, Carlos Sainz was the stage winner in the SMG (Jimco built) Buggy.
Tomorrow, during the course of the stage from Salta to Calama, the field will cross the border to Chile. Altogether, the competitors will have to cover a mileage of 823 kilometres, featuring a 302-kilometre special stage with tight and fast tracks that will make overtaking particularly difficult.
Result stage 7
1st C. Sainz (ESP) / T. Gottschalk (GER) Buggy – 4h 43m 28s
2nd N. Al-Attiyah (QAT) / L. Cruz (ESP) MINI ALL4 Racing – 4h 47m 52s
3rd S. Peterhansel (FRA) / J.-P. Cottret (FRA) MINI ALL4 Racing – 4h 50m 32s
Overall standings after stage 7
1st N. Roma (ESP) / M. Périn (FRA) MINI ALL4 Racing – 27h 03m 52s
2nd S. Peterhansel (FRA) / J.-P. Cottret (FRA) MINI ALL4 Racing – 27h 35m 23s
3rd G. de Villiers (ZAF) / D. von Zitzewitz (GER) Toyota – 27h 52m 15s