Al-Attiyah takes lead from Sainz

• Source: Global Times
• [08:49 January 12 2011]
• Comments

Nasser Al-Attiyah steers his Volkswagen (bottom) followed by Spain's Carlos Sainz. Photo: AFP

Qatari driver Nasser Al- Attiyah took the overall race lead after winning the eighth stage, a 508km special on a 776km run through the Atacama desert from Antofagasta to Copiapo Tuesday.

The Volkswagen driver, runner-up last year, finished 6 minutes 36 seconds ahead of teammate and defending champion Carlos Sainz from whom he takes the overall race lead following a battle through the lunar landscape of one of the driest places on earth.

Al-Attiyah - who also won stage seven - now leads the Spaniard by 5 minutes 14 seconds in the overall standings.

"I can control the race now," warned the Qatari driver.

"It was a difficult stage because I was opening all the way, but the dunes are my favorite terrain and I was really pushing to the limit."