Former world rally champion Carlos Sainz took another huge step towards the 2010 Dakar title on Thursday when he captured the 12th stage.
The Spaniard has now opened up a 5min 20sec gap over his Volkswagen teammate Nasser Al-Attiyah following the gruelling 796km run, of which 476km was a timed special, between San Juan and San Rafael.
Al-Attiyah was second on the day, 52sec behind, but time is running out for the Qatari driver with the race due to finish in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
America's Mark Miller, another Volkswagen driver, was third on the day and remains third overall after finishing 4min 22sec behind Sainz on the stage and is now 28min 12sec behind overall.
France's Stephane Peterhansel, in a BMW, is fourth, ahead of America's Robby Gordon in a Hummer.
"Everything's fine," said Sainz. "It was a bit quick, not dangerous but tricky. I didn't have any problems."
Al-Attiyah, who was disqualified from the race in 2009, admitted Thursday's stage, the longest of the race, had been challenging.
"Sometimes the car was on four wheels, sometimes on three, sometimes even two," he said.
"In some places the track was steeper than I have ever seen, almost vertical. I didnGÇÖt lose much time, so itGÇÖs been a good day. I feel good about tomorrow, even great."
Chile's Francisco Lopez won the motorcycling stage.
The Aprilia rider finished ahead of France's David Fretigne on a Yamaha, who was 40 seconds off the pace, with Norway's Pal Ullevalseter, on a KTM, 1min 13sec behind the winner.
Overall leader Cyril Despres of France, on a KTM, stayed in charge of the overall standings, an hour ahead of the Chilean, despite losing more than 17 minutes on the stage.
"It was a wonderful stage and very hot at the end, a technical and tough special. I handled the bike well," said Lopez.
"It was a route that suited my machine, but it was difficult. For one of the last few stages of the Dakar, it was one of the toughest."
