SANTIAGO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Qatari auto racer Prince Nasser Al Attiyah won Day 6 of the legendary Dakar Rally Thursday, behind the wheel of a Buggy.
Al Attiyah won the sixth stage of the rugged off-road race, between the Chilean cities of Arica and Calama, knocking French rival Stephane Peterhansel (Mini) out of the lead.
The Qatari competitor covered the day's 455-kilometer tract in 3 hours, 32 minutes and 8 seconds, followed by Peterhansel, the 2012 rally champion, who trailed 8 minutes and 36 seconds behind.
Halfway through the rally, which kicked off Jan. 5 in neighboring Peru and concludes Jan. 20 in Chile, France's Peterhansel holds the lead, followed closely by Al Attiyah, trailing by 1 minute and 18 seconds. In distant third place is South Africa's Giniel de Villiers, the 2009 rally champion, who trails the Frenchman by 42 minutes and 31 seconds.
Friday marks the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally, which features a 220-kilometer tract from the Chilean city of Copiapo, over the desert sand dunes of Calama, to the Argentinean province of Salta.
Day 6 Rankings:
1. Al Attiyah (QAT) 3h:32m:08s Buggy
2. Peterhansel (FRA) 8'36" Mini
3. Gordon (USA) 13'52" Toyota
Overall Rankings:
1. Peterhansel (FRA) 14h:36m:16s Mini
2. Al Attiyah (QAT) a 01'18" Buggy
3. De Villiers (SA) a 42'31" Toyota