Yesterday's stage from Copiapo to La Serena was all Volkswagen's, as the German manufacturer put three of its 4 drivers in the Top 3 at the finish line. After Sainz came last year's winner of the Dakar Rally, Giniel de Villiers, who arrived some one minute and 39 seconds further behind the Spaniard.
“After yesterday I said I must take six minutes from Carlos because if he gains time over me today, then the team might start giving team orders and I don't need team orders. Now victory is possible, we have an eight-minute gap I think. The fight continues,” said Al-Attiyah, who scored fastest times at all checkpoints of the yesterday's stage.
Guerlain Chicherit was the only BMW driver who messed with VW's Top 5 on Monday, as he came 4th overall, ahead of 3rd placed driver in the overall classification Mark Miller. The latter therefore dropped some more 5 minutes to leader Sainz in the car's standings, where he is now 27:17 minutes to first place.
Peterhansel again had an unlucky day during Stage 9 yesterday, as the Frenchman got stuck in the stand in the first 100 km of the stage. That eventually cost him more than 17 minutes to Al-Attiyah at the end of the stage, but he still managed to keep his 4th place overall.
After 9 stages in the rally, here's how the overall classification looks like:
1. Carlos Sainz (Volkswagen) 33h33m40s
2. Nasser Al-Attiyah (Volkswagen) + 8:36
3. Mark Miller (Volkswagen) + 27:17
4. Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) + 2:13:52
5. Guerlain Chicherit (BMW) + 2:28:27
6. Carlos Sousa (Mitsubishi) + 3:44:27
7. Giniel de Villiers (Volkswagen) + 4:36:28
8. Guilherme Spinelli (Mitsubishi) + 5:15:42
9. Leonid Novitskiy (BMW) + 5:30:58
10. Robby Gordon ( Hummer) + 5:34:20
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