Al-Attiyah retires in Dakar defence
01/11/2012 01:28:31 AM
Defending champion Nasser Al-Attiyah retired from the 2012 Dakar Rally on Tuesday, as Stephane Peterhansel retained the overall lead.
Qatari Al-Attiyah pulled out after his Hummer suffered technical problems on the ninth stage between Antofagasta and Iquique in Chile.
Another Hummer driver, American Bobby Gordon, won the 174-kilometre stage with a time of four hours, 35 minutes and 21 seconds.
Gordon sits second on the overall standings, five minutes and 58 seconds behind Mini driver Peterhansel.
The Frenchman, a three-time Dakar car champion, was second in Tuesday's stage, 01:38 behind Gordon.
Also on Tuesday, Cyril Despres of France took out stage nine to regain the overall lead from Spaniard Mark Como in the bike category.
Despres finished the 606-kilometre stage in 5.04:33, 03:54 ahead of fellow KTM man Coma, who trails by 02:28 overall.