Nasser Al-Attiyah won the 10th stage of the Dakar Rally on Wednesday, but Stephane Peterhansel finished close behind to give himself a chance of winning his 12th title.
Al-Attiyah of Qatar was 3 minutes, 50 seconds in front of Peterhansel and 13:45 clear of overall car leader Nani Roma of Spain.
Roma leads overall by 2:15 ahead of Peterhansel. Al-Attiyah is 46 minutes off the pace with three stages remaining before Saturday's finish in Valparaiso.
Spanish great Carlos Sainz has abandoned the rally after being injured in a crash during the 10th stage.
The 51-year-old two-time world rally champion and 2010 Dakar winner was taken to the rally medical centre, according to event organisers.
His SMG buggy was badly damaged.
"He was slightly injured and evacuated to the medical centre at the Antofagasta bivouac (where the stage finishes)," organisers said.
Sainz, nicknamed the "Matador" for his aggressive style of driving, was way off the pace even before the stage, trailing compatriot Roma by 3hrs, 28mins.
In the bikes, Joan Barreda Bort of Spain won the stage, but countryman Marc Coma holds a commanding overall lead and should win barring a catastrophe. Coma is 44:10 ahead of Barreda Bort and more than two hours in front of No.3 Jordi Viladoms.
Thursday's 11th stage is from Antofagasta to El Salvador.
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