Sainz crashes, but VW still wins Dakar

Former World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz missed out on adding the Dakar Rally to his impressive CV when he crashed out of the new-look event in South America with three days to go.

Sainz, a two-time WRC title winner, was leading in his turbodiesel Volkswagen Touareg when he crashed on day 13 of the event, which looped from Buenos Aires in Argentina to Valparaiso in Chile and back again. His co-driver Michel Perin injured his shoulder in the accident, forcing their withdrawal.

VW still ended Mitsubishi’s winning streak on the Dakar, which dates back to 2001. South African Giniel de Villiers and co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz took the top spot ahead of Mark Miller, who lost time on the stage where Sainz crashed.