As GWM/Haval team principal, Dong Ming, predicted at the halfway stage of Dakar 2014, the fierce battle at the top of the leader board would inevitably lead to retirements as the race drew to a close. Carlos Sainz of Spain, already plagued by technical problems and penalties throughout the race, crashed his fast but fragile SMG Buggy out of the event during Stage 10 in spectacular fashion. Sainz suffered light injuries in the crash.
With Sainz out of contention, GWM/Haval’s Christian Lavieille now moves up to eighth overall, following a consistent run in Stage 10 where he achieved the 11th fastest time. Crucially, he completed the stage in a faster time than the 7th placed Toyota of Dabrowshi/Czachor and is now less than 30 minutes behind.
The stage was won by Mini driver Nasser Al-Attiyah, with Stephane Peterhansel and overall leader Nani Roma – both in Minis – in hot pursuit. Peterhansel is now less than three minutes behind Roma in the overall standings.
The positions following Stage 10:
1. Roma/Perin #304 (Mini) = 38 hours 52 minutes 57 seconds
2. Peterhansel/Cottret #300 (Mini) + 2 minutes 15 seconds
3. Al-Attiyah/Cruz #301 (Mini) + 46 minutes 1 second
4. De Villiers/Zitzewitz #302 (Toyota) + 1 hour 14 minutes 16 seconds
5. Terranova/Fiuza #307 (Mini) + 1 hour 14 minutes 36 seconds
6. Holowczyc/Zhiltsov #309 (Mini) + 3 hours 17 minutes 31 seconds
7. Dabrowski/Czachor #328 (Toyota) + 4 hours 3 minutes 57 seconds
8. Lavieille/Garcin #315 (GWM/Haval) + 4 hours 32 minutes 45 seconds
* Haval is the premium SUV division of GWM.
