Al-Attiyah’s Dakar dream ends for 2012

11th January 2012

Nasser Al-Attiyah's bid for a second straight Dakar Rally victory came to an end on Tuesday when he was forced to retire his Hummer from the event following further alternator and engine problems.

The World Rally Championship regular had still been confident he had the pace to charge back to the front even after mechanical problems in the opening week left him 50 minutes off the lead, but he has now had to admit defeat.

The fight for 2012 Dakar victory is now between event legend Stephane Peterhansel, who leads in an X-raid Mini, and Al-Attiyah's team-mate Robby Gordon, who are six minutes apart with four full-length stages remaining.

NASCAR driver Gordon has vowed to keep pushing to catch the Frenchman.

"For us, we've got to make time," said Gordon. "We're in a different position to him. He has to conserve his time and I've got to make it. We've got four days left, four real days of racing left and the Hummer's strong."

Peterhansel admitted that Gordon probably has the faster package, but reckons Mini still holds the stronger hand overall.

"When the Hummers don't have any problems, they are a bit quicker than us. We're going to fight to hold on to the slender lead we have over him," said Peterhansel.

"There are flaws with the Hummers. I just hope that we'll be able to take advantage of them."