Al-Attiyah, Coma win 2011 Dakar Rally
By DPA, IANSSaturday, January 15, 2011
BUENOS AIRES - Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah, of Volkswagen, won Saturday 2011 Dakar Rally in the car category, ahead of South Africa’s Giniel De Villiers and of the Spain’s Carlos Sainz.
In the motorcycle category, Spaniard Marc Coma, with KTM, added a third title to those he achieved in 2006 and 2009. Coma finished the prestigious offroad race ahead of Frenchman Cyril Despres - who won the race in 2005, 2007 and 2010 - and of Portugal’s Helder Rodrigues.
The 13th stage of the rally featured 826 km between the central Argentine city of Cordoba and Buenos Aires, including a 181-km timed special.
The Dakar Rally was staged in Argentina and Chile for the third consecutive year, after security problems drove the event out of its original location in Africa.
Since the race started Jan 1, participants covered some 9,500 km in Argentina and Chile, including 5,000 km of timed specials.
Winners are to be celebrated Sunday in Buenos Aires, where a large crowd is expected.
