Belen, Argentina - Carlos Sainz moved to the top of the overall standings of the Dakar Rally after winning Tuesday's ninth stage as Sebastien Loeb fell further behind after struggling in sandy conditions.
The stage around Belen was cut short because of searing heat and the many difficulties encountered by competitors between Belen and Fiambala.
For the motorbikes the stage was halted after 179km of the day's planned 436km run with the riders continuing on in convoy to the finish line, apart from some 30 competitors who had already reached that point.
For cars the race was also shortened to the 179km mark, of the planned 396km, of which 285km were timed. Temperatures were between 37 and 40 degrees.
Spanish veteran Sainz, driving a Peugeot, held off the Minis of Erik van Loon and Mikko Hirvonen by 10 and 17 seconds respectively.
“It was a very demanding course, physically speaking, with a lot of off-road, navigation and vegetation,” said Sainz.
“It was very hot,” the 2010 winner added shortly after being cooled down with blocks of ice.
Stephane Peterhansel, who finished 9m12s behind Peugeot team-mate Sainz, lost the lead in the overall standings to Sainz, who now leads by 7m03s.
Dakar drama: Loeb crashes, Giniel gets stuck
Top South Africans Giniel de Villiers and and Leeroy Poulter in the Toyota Gazoo Racing SA V8 Hiluxes got off to a flying start. De Villiers posted the fourth fastest time of the day, just 38 seconds behind Sainz, despite suffering a puncture mid-stage. That moved him up to fifth in the overall standings, with four stages to go.
Poulter was just two seconds off the leader at the first waypoint.
"Unfortunately things did not quite go to plan from that point," said Poulter after reaching the bivouac at the end of the shortened stage. "We hesitated for a moment while entering a tricky canyon. There was Peugeot bodywork strewn around, and we were overly cautious as a result."
Poulter lost some time in the canyon, before picking his way cautiously along the route. He also suffered two punctures on Stage 9, finishing 11th for the day, just over sixteen minutes behind the stage winner.
That dropped him down to seventh in the overall standings, less than two minutes behind team-mate Yazeed al Rajhi, who came in ninth, losing 9m38 to Sainz. Al Rajhi started strong but struggled to locate the first waypoint, and lost the best part of thirteen minutes early in the stage. He fought back, however, to restrict the damage and hold on to sixth place overall.
Mark Corbett in the first of the South African-built Century Racing CR5 buggies put in an absolute scorcher, to finish 10th for the day – his best Dakar stage result yet by 13 places – and leapfrog eight spots in the standings to 20th overall.
Team-mate Colin Matthews, in contrast, battled home 74th and stone last, more than seven hours behind the leader, losing nine places to 40th overall.
Sean Reitz in the Red-lined Nissan Navara finished 55th for the day and dropped one place to 46th overall.
MORE DRAMA
After rolling his Peugeot on Monday, Sebastien Loeb struggled in the dunes, getting stuck in the sand on several occasions.
The nine-times world rally champion eventually limped home 18th spot, 1hr 13m behind Sainz.
“It was very tough and very sandy in places,” Loeb said. “We wanted to try to follow the roadbook closely so as not to get lost.
“In the end, there were some places we couldn't get through pass. The sand is so soft, we got stuck several times.
“It's a bit depressing, but it's a learning process.”
There was more drama for French competitor Lionel Baud.
On Saturday's Stage 7, Baud hit and killed a 63-year-old Bolivian shepherd, an accident that saw the tearful Frenchman withdraw from the gruelling event.
But on Tuesday a convoy leading Baud's car back to Buenos Aires was hit by a goods lorry in an accident also involving four other vehicles. An Argentinian car driver was reported killed in the accident.
MOTORCYCLES
After the arrival of just 10 motorcycles at the finish line, Australian KTM rider Toby Price, the overall race leader, had clocked the fastest time of 3hr 55m51s.
But organisers could decide to recalculate the times at the 179km mark where Price also had the best time.
Sole South Africa motorcycle survivor Kobus Potgieter finished 7th for the day on his KTM and moved up eight places to 86th overall.
Team Rhide quad rider Brian Baragwanath got his mojo back, powering his Yamaha 700 Raptor to fourth on Stage 9 and moving up another place to eighth overall.
Team-mate Ted Barbier came in 16th for the day – his best stage result yet – and moved up five places to 23rd overall, but George Twigge on the third Team Rhide machine went out on Stage 9 due to engine failure, putting a premature end to his Dakar Rally.