Al-Attiyah on verge of third Dakar title

PISCO, Peru - Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah moved to within touching distance of his third Dakar Rally title by winning the penultimate stage of the off-road race here on Wednesday.

The Toyota driver finished the 313km loop around Pisco in southern Peru in three hours, 53 minutes and 22 seconds, almost five minutes ahead of X-Raid's Spanish driver Nani Roma.

South African Giniel de Villiers was third in his Toyota, more than seven minutes off the pace.

It was a frustrating day for nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb, who led for most of the stage before his Peugeot encountered mechanical problems in the final stretch.

Al-Attiyah now leads the overall standings by 51 minutes ahead of Thursday's final stage from Pisco to Lima. Roma is second and Loeb third.

Earlier, Michael Metge of France took out the motorbike stage, finishing two minutes ahead of Bolivia's Daniel Nosiglia. Chilean Pablo Quintanilla was third, three and a half minutes behind Metge.

Australian Toby Price leads the overall bike standings, a minute and two seconds ahead of second-placed Quintanilla.