Jóhann Thormählen

Buenos Aires – South Africa’s Giniel de Villiers was weighed down by serious engine problems in Monday’s third stage of the Dakar Rally.

Peterhansel leads Dakar Rally after Stage 3

The defending champion had to stop his Volkswagen after only 50km of the 182km stage between La Rioja and Fiambala, Argentina. He had to wait for help before taking any further part in the race.

De Villiers eventually finished the stage in 32nd place, some two hours and 55 minutes behind winner Stephane Peterhansel of France in his BMW. De Villiers now finds himself in 23rd position overall - and a massive three hours adrift.

The stage, the last in Argentina before the race heads to the Andes mountains in Chile, was also the first real test of the rally.

The first sand dunes of the rally made up more than 100km of the stage.

South African navigator Ralph Pitchford and his American driver Mark Miller (Volkswagen) enjoyed another good stage. They finished fourth which kept them in fourth position overall.

Alfie Cox (Nissan) had an excellent day, finishing seventh. He was 17th in Sunday’s stage and held 18th spot before Monday’s stage and after Monday's performance, he has climbed into seventh position overall.

Dakar rally results on Monday in the 182km third stage from La Rioja to Fiambala:

Cars:

1. Stphane Peterhansel (FRA/BMW) 2hr 55min 19sec, 2. Carlos Sainz (ESP/Volkswagen) at 5:44, 3. Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT/Volkswagen) 10:01, 4. Mark Miller (USA/Volkswagen) 10:14, 5. Guerlain Chicherit (FRA/BMW) 19:08, 6. Ronan Chabot (FRA/Toyota) 23:46, 7. Andrew Cox (RSA/Nissan) 27:01, 8. Krzysztof Holowczyc (POL/Nissan) 28:20, 9. Carlos Sousa (POR/Stradale) 39:02, 10. Guilherme Spinelli (BRA/Stradale) 42:00

Selected

32. Giniel De Villiers (RSA/Volkswagen) 2:55:59

Overall

1. Stphane Peterhansel (FRA/BMW) 9:14:28, 2. Carlos Sainz (ESP/Volkswagen)at 4:33, 3. Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT/Volkswagen) 7:31, 4. Mark Miller (USA/Volkswagen) 13:12, 5. Krzysztof Holowczyc (POL/Nissan) 41:38, 6. Carlos Sousa (POR/Stradale) 46:45, 7. Andrew Cox (RSA/Nissan) 47:58, 8. Guilherme Spinelli (BRA/Stradale) 1:01:52, 9. Robby Gordon (USA/Hummer) 1:04:54, 10. Mauricio Neves (BRA/Volkswagen) 1:09:14

Selected

23. Giniel De Villiers (RSA/Volkswagen) 3:00:46

Motorcycling:

1. Cyril Despres (FRA/KTM) 3hr 01min 09sec, 2. Helder Rodrigues (POR/Yamaha) at 10:40, 3. Paulo Goncalves (POR/BMW) 12:09, 4. David Casteu (FRA/Sherco) 12:13, 5. Francisco Lopez (CHI/Aprilia) 17:05, 6. Alain Duclos (FRA/KTM) 17:45, 7. Luca Manca (ITA/KTM) 17:56, 8. Jonah Street (USA/KTM), 18:52, 9. Marc Coma (ESP/KTM) 21:37, 10. Pal Ullevalseter (NOR/KTM) 23:30

Overall

1. Cyril Despres (FRA/KTM) 8hr 54min 04sec, 2. David Casteu (FRA/Sherco) at 10:03, 3. Helder Rodrigues (POR/Yamaha) 17:57, 4. Luca Manca (ITA/KTM) 24:29, 5. Alain Duclos (FRA/KTM) 30:58, 6. Jonah Street (USA/KTM) 33:26, 7. Francisco Lopez (CHI/Aprilia) 37:15, 8. Marc Coma (ESP/KTM) 42:04, 9. Pal Ullevalseter (NOR/KTM) 45:23, 10. Paulo Goncalves (POR/BMW) 53:13