Bamako, Jan 15: Former world rally champion Colin McRae drove to victory in the 13th stage of the Dakar Rally with David Fretigne of France the top rider.
Britain's former world rally champion Colin McRae chalked up his first Dakar win on Wednesday (January 14) with a resounding victory in the 13th stage after a troubled week. The Scot, driving a Nissan pickup in his debut Dakar, reached the final checkpoint of the 478-km stage between the Malian capital Bamako and Ayoun el Atrous 25 minutes faster than Mitsubishi's defending champion Hiroshi Masuoka. He was the first British driver to win a Dakar stage since Andrew Cowan for Mitsubishi in 1990 and he led a Nissan 1-2-3 with South African Giniel de Villiers second and Finland's Ari Vatanen third.

Bureau Report