Sainz marches to triumph in Dakar

Carlos Sainz added the 2010 Dakar title to his two world rally championships yesterday, thwarting Volkswagen team-mate Nasser Al-Attiyah's desperate, late bid to snatch victory.

The 47-year-old Spaniard, world rally champion in 1990 and 1992, had led since the fifth stage and clinched two stages on the 32nd running of the gruelling event.

He finished 2min 12sec ahead of Al-Attiyah with whom he angrily clashed on Friday's penultimate stage when he accused the Qatari of unsporting behaviour when he passed, kicking up a blinding, South American dust-storm in the process.

Al-Attiyah had the meagre consolation of taking the race's 14th and final stage, a 335km special from Santa Rosa to the Argentine capital.

"It's a very important day for me. I won in Europe, in Spain and today in the Dakar. I am really happy and relieved," said Sainz.

France's Cyril Despres won his third Dakar motorcycling title while Portuguese rider Ruben Faria claimed the final stage honours.

Norwegian Pal Ullevalseter finished second overall, over an hour behind Despres.