Carlos Sainz, the veteran rally driver, seems to be running ahead making it difficult even for his age to catch up. As the race entered the fast Bolivian stages on the way to La Paz, Sainz topped the rankings in the stage that suited his driving style and shaving off four minutes of Peterhansel’s lead in the process.
After Sebastien Loeb’s retirement yesterday, the Peugeot duo is leading from the front making is difficult for the Gazoo Toyotas to stay in the title hunt. Nonetheless, Nasser Al-Attiyah’s third fastest performance of the day have put him within four minutes of his fellow Toyota driver, Bernhard Ten Brinke who is running third overall.
Peterhansel is still leading the overall standings with the other Peugeot in tow while the two Toyota’s are not too far behind. Mikko Hirvonen, in the Mini X-Raid, hasn’t been able to make an impression with at least five privateer teams standing between him and the other factory drivers.
Today, 12 January, is the first rest day and a much needed one for the racers after the gruelling six stages of racing. Obviously, new strategies will be worked out and Toyota will certainly be hoping for a miracle while Peugeot will make sure that they keep carrying the momentum into the high Bolivian flats.
