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VALPARAïSO, Chile - Spanish driver Nani Roma won the Dakar Rally on Saturday, 10 years after he clinched the motorcycle title in the gruelling event but it was South African Giniel de Villiers who won the final stage.
Roma, 42, overturned a 26sec overnight deficit on his Mini team mate and 11-times champion Stephane Peterhansel to take victory.
GALLERY: Images from a gruelling week
South Africa's Giniel de Villiers (Toyota) won the stage, the 13th and final one of the race over 157km from La Serena to Valparaiso, with Roma fourth place behind fellow Mini drivers Krzysztof Holowczyc and Vladimir Vasilyev. Roma, therefore, becomes only the third driver to win the Dakar title on two and four wheels after Peterhansel and Hubert Auriol.
NEW INSTRUCTIONS?
His win came after a controversial two days when Mini insisted on team orders which would have seen Roma, Peterhansel and 2011 champion Nasser al-Attiyah complete a podium lockout for the manufacturers but Roma had a puncture on Friday and Peterhansel re-took the overall lead.
It was unclear in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's conclusion whether or not the Mini drivers had received new instructions.
Peterhansel, six times a champion on two wheels and five times on four, was 13th on Saturday but took second overall, 5min 38 behind his team mate.
al-Attiyah, meanwhile, was left to rue the one-hour penalty he collected for missing way points on Stage 10 as he finished 56min52 behind Roma and in third overall in another Mini.
MRS ROMA ALSO RACED
Roma, whose wife also took part in the race but on a motorcycle, said: "I always had it in my head that I wanted to win in a car after winning the motorcycles. I don't know if this is the greatest stress I have experienced, but it was very tough.
"The second week, with hard, long stages, wasn't easy but 10 years after winning on a motorcycle, I have won in the cars. It's a dream come true."
Peterhansel admitted it had been a frustrating end to the race. "Let's look on the bright side. The car didn't miss a beat, it took anything we threw at it, like usual, and we had lots of fun driving but I'm frustrated with the final result.
“The third thing I want to say is that Nani's my friend and I'm pleased to see him happy."
MOTORCYCLES
Spain's Marc Coma, riding for the KTM team, won the motorcycle title for the fourth time after avoiding any last day misfortune to add the 2014 title to his successes in 2006, 2009 and 2011.
He had a nearly two-hour lead over the chasing pack going into the final day and finished 18th on the stage. The 37-year-old said later: "This represents a lot of sacrifices. It was an extreme course with some good moments and some hard times.
"Every time I’ve won this rally I’ve said I would savour the moment as I don't know if I am going to win again."
Spain's Jordi Viladoms, also riding a KTM, was second overall. "I'm overwhelmed," he said. “It's a big thing for me, especially after the year I went through. I'm over the moon with this result."
TOUGH TEMPERATURES
France's defending champion Cyril Despres won the stage for Yamaha but was later penalised five minutes which dropped him to fifth on the day. Spain's Joan Barreda (Honda) was promoted from second to first on the stage.
The 36th edition of the Dakar Rally, which crossed Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, proved one of the toughest with temperatures soaring to 47 at one stage. It also saw the death of one competitor - Belgian motorcyclist Eric Palante on Stage 5 between Chilecito and Tucuman -- as well as two Argentine journalists.
The Dakar Rally also proved a hit with fans as Argentine police estimated around a million spectators watched the race start at Rosario, the birthplace of Che Guevara and Lionel Messi.
Check Wheels24's special Dakar Rally section for reports of every stage.
US - Stage 13 - Car/Bike - Stage Summary - (La... by Dakar
Dakar Rally results on Saturday after the 13th and final stage (535km/157km special) +between La Serena and Valparaiso
Auto
Stage
1 Giniel de Villiers (RSA/Toyota) 1hr57min07
2 Krzysztof Holowczyc (POL/Mini) +23
3 Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS/Mini) +41
4 Nani Roma (ESP/Mini) +1min40
5 Orlando Terranova (ARG/Mini) +1min53
6 Christian Lavieille (FRA/Haval) +2min57,
7 Federico Villagra (ARG/Mini) +3min09
8 Martin Kaczmarski (POL/Mini) +4min45,
9 Nasser al-Attiyah (QAT/Mini) +4min51
10 Boris Garafulic (CHI/Mini) +6min59.
Overall (after the 13th and final stage)
1 Nani Roma (ESP/Mini) 50hr44min58
2 Stephane Peterhansel (FRA/Mini) +5min38,
3 Nasser al-Attiyah (QAT/Mini) +56min52
4 Giniel de Villiers (RSA/Toyota) +1hr19min07
5 Orlando Terranova (ARG/Mini) +1hr27min44
6 Krzysztof Holowczyc (POL/Mini) +3hr55min42
7 Marek Dabrowski (POL/Toyota) +5hr34min25
8 Christian Lavieille (FRA/Haval) +5hr35min50
9 Martin Kaczmarski (POL/Mini) +6hr58min12
10 Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS/UKR/Mini) +6hr59min34
Motorcycles
Stage
1 Joan Barreda (ESP/Honda) 1hr59min44sec
2 Olivier Pain (FRA/Yamaha) +40
3 Helder Rodrigues (POR/Honda) +1min23
4 Juan Pedrero (ESP/Sherco) +1min35
5 Cyril Despres (FRA/Yamaha) +2min30
6 Jordi Viladoms (ESP/KTM) +3min31
7 Michael Metge (FRA/Yamaha) +4min08
8 Daniel Gouet (CHI/Honda) +4min17
9 Kuba Przygonski (POL/KTM) +5min16
10 David Casteu (FRA/KTM) +7min20
Overall (after 13th and final stage)
1 Marc Coma (ESP/KTM) 54hr50min53
2 Jordi Viladoms (ESP/KTM) +1hr52min27
3 Olivier Pain (FRA/Yamaha) +2hr00min03
4 Cyril Despres (FRA/Yamaha) +2hr00min38
5 Helder Rodrigues (POR/Honda) +2hr11min09
6 Kuba Przygonski (POL/KTM) +2hr31min46
7 Joan Barreda (ESP/Honda) +2hr54min01
8 Daniel Gouet (CHI/Honda) +3hr10min34
9 Stefan Svitko (SVK/KTM) +3hr50min10
10 David Casteu (FRA/KTM) +3hr58min09
Roma, 42, overturned a 26sec overnight deficit on his Mini team mate and 11-times champion Stephane Peterhansel to take victory.
GALLERY: Images from a gruelling week
South Africa's Giniel de Villiers (Toyota) won the stage, the 13th and final one of the race over 157km from La Serena to Valparaiso, with Roma fourth place behind fellow Mini drivers Krzysztof Holowczyc and Vladimir Vasilyev. Roma, therefore, becomes only the third driver to win the Dakar title on two and four wheels after Peterhansel and Hubert Auriol.
NEW INSTRUCTIONS?
His win came after a controversial two days when Mini insisted on team orders which would have seen Roma, Peterhansel and 2011 champion Nasser al-Attiyah complete a podium lockout for the manufacturers but Roma had a puncture on Friday and Peterhansel re-took the overall lead.
It was unclear in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's conclusion whether or not the Mini drivers had received new instructions.
Peterhansel, six times a champion on two wheels and five times on four, was 13th on Saturday but took second overall, 5min 38 behind his team mate.
al-Attiyah, meanwhile, was left to rue the one-hour penalty he collected for missing way points on Stage 10 as he finished 56min52 behind Roma and in third overall in another Mini.
MRS ROMA ALSO RACED
Roma, whose wife also took part in the race but on a motorcycle, said: "I always had it in my head that I wanted to win in a car after winning the motorcycles. I don't know if this is the greatest stress I have experienced, but it was very tough.
"The second week, with hard, long stages, wasn't easy but 10 years after winning on a motorcycle, I have won in the cars. It's a dream come true."
Peterhansel admitted it had been a frustrating end to the race. "Let's look on the bright side. The car didn't miss a beat, it took anything we threw at it, like usual, and we had lots of fun driving but I'm frustrated with the final result.
“The third thing I want to say is that Nani's my friend and I'm pleased to see him happy."
MOTORCYCLES
Spain's Marc Coma, riding for the KTM team, won the motorcycle title for the fourth time after avoiding any last day misfortune to add the 2014 title to his successes in 2006, 2009 and 2011.
He had a nearly two-hour lead over the chasing pack going into the final day and finished 18th on the stage. The 37-year-old said later: "This represents a lot of sacrifices. It was an extreme course with some good moments and some hard times.
"Every time I’ve won this rally I’ve said I would savour the moment as I don't know if I am going to win again."
Spain's Jordi Viladoms, also riding a KTM, was second overall. "I'm overwhelmed," he said. “It's a big thing for me, especially after the year I went through. I'm over the moon with this result."
TOUGH TEMPERATURES
France's defending champion Cyril Despres won the stage for Yamaha but was later penalised five minutes which dropped him to fifth on the day. Spain's Joan Barreda (Honda) was promoted from second to first on the stage.
The 36th edition of the Dakar Rally, which crossed Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, proved one of the toughest with temperatures soaring to 47 at one stage. It also saw the death of one competitor - Belgian motorcyclist Eric Palante on Stage 5 between Chilecito and Tucuman -- as well as two Argentine journalists.
The Dakar Rally also proved a hit with fans as Argentine police estimated around a million spectators watched the race start at Rosario, the birthplace of Che Guevara and Lionel Messi.
Check Wheels24's special Dakar Rally section for reports of every stage.
US - Stage 13 - Car/Bike - Stage Summary - (La... by Dakar
Dakar Rally results on Saturday after the 13th and final stage (535km/157km special) +between La Serena and Valparaiso
Auto
Stage
1 Giniel de Villiers (RSA/Toyota) 1hr57min07
2 Krzysztof Holowczyc (POL/Mini) +23
3 Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS/Mini) +41
4 Nani Roma (ESP/Mini) +1min40
5 Orlando Terranova (ARG/Mini) +1min53
6 Christian Lavieille (FRA/Haval) +2min57,
7 Federico Villagra (ARG/Mini) +3min09
8 Martin Kaczmarski (POL/Mini) +4min45,
9 Nasser al-Attiyah (QAT/Mini) +4min51
10 Boris Garafulic (CHI/Mini) +6min59.
Overall (after the 13th and final stage)
1 Nani Roma (ESP/Mini) 50hr44min58
2 Stephane Peterhansel (FRA/Mini) +5min38,
3 Nasser al-Attiyah (QAT/Mini) +56min52
4 Giniel de Villiers (RSA/Toyota) +1hr19min07
5 Orlando Terranova (ARG/Mini) +1hr27min44
6 Krzysztof Holowczyc (POL/Mini) +3hr55min42
7 Marek Dabrowski (POL/Toyota) +5hr34min25
8 Christian Lavieille (FRA/Haval) +5hr35min50
9 Martin Kaczmarski (POL/Mini) +6hr58min12
10 Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS/UKR/Mini) +6hr59min34
Motorcycles
Stage
1 Joan Barreda (ESP/Honda) 1hr59min44sec
2 Olivier Pain (FRA/Yamaha) +40
3 Helder Rodrigues (POR/Honda) +1min23
4 Juan Pedrero (ESP/Sherco) +1min35
5 Cyril Despres (FRA/Yamaha) +2min30
6 Jordi Viladoms (ESP/KTM) +3min31
7 Michael Metge (FRA/Yamaha) +4min08
8 Daniel Gouet (CHI/Honda) +4min17
9 Kuba Przygonski (POL/KTM) +5min16
10 David Casteu (FRA/KTM) +7min20
Overall (after 13th and final stage)
1 Marc Coma (ESP/KTM) 54hr50min53
2 Jordi Viladoms (ESP/KTM) +1hr52min27
3 Olivier Pain (FRA/Yamaha) +2hr00min03
4 Cyril Despres (FRA/Yamaha) +2hr00min38
5 Helder Rodrigues (POR/Honda) +2hr11min09
6 Kuba Przygonski (POL/KTM) +2hr31min46
7 Joan Barreda (ESP/Honda) +2hr54min01
8 Daniel Gouet (CHI/Honda) +3hr10min34
9 Stefan Svitko (SVK/KTM) +3hr50min10
10 David Casteu (FRA/KTM) +3hr58min09
