Dakar Rally 2016 Loeb regains lead as Walkner’s Dakar ends early
Sainz, the 2010 champion, scored a solid victory over the 336km course from Uyuni in Bolivia to the Argentine city of Salta with Loeb 38 seconds in arrears.
Reigning champion Nasser Al-Attiyah was third in the Mini while Team Peugeot Total’s Stephane Peterhansel, who had taken the lead off Loeb with a stunning win in Friday’s stage six, was fourth.
Loeb now holds a two minute 22 second lead over Peterhansel with the fast-improving Sainz over four minutes back in third place overall.
Sunday is a rest day.
There was another French winner in the bikes category when former endure world champion Antoine Meo won his first ever stage.
The stage was marred by a nasty accident for Matthias Walkner which saw him break a femur and withdraw from the race.
