Santosh ends 35th, Sainz wins at Dakar

CORDOBA: The struggle in dust and dunes is over and it’s time to fete the Dakar Rally 2018 champions. After the 14th stage in the Argentine city, a few old names did justice to their reputation while some newcomers surprised all.

In the car section, Team Peugeot Total’s Carlos Sainz, a twotime world rally championship winner, and co-driver Lucas Cruz maintained their top position with ease and won the title.

“We have put a lot of effort into this car, I think I deserved this victory,” Sainz said after winning his second Dakar title. “I had ups and downs, but I always tried my best. Especially this rally, it has been so, so hard.”

India’s CS Santosh, representing Hero Motosports, finished 35th overall – his best-ever result in four Dakar’s so far. He finished 36th in the 2015 edition. Santosh’s teammate Oriol Mena, a debutant in Dakar, finished seventh overall. He also won the ‘Best Rookie Rider’ title.

Santosh, who at one point was among the top 20 in the initial stages, survived a crash and a loose fuel cap to finish the Dakar for the third time. “It was as tough Dakar this year for sure, every day you had to bow down to the stages,” he said.

GAURAV GILL CLINCHES NATIONAL RALLY TITLE

BENGALURU: Mahindra Adventure’s Gaurav Gill annexed his fifth MRF-FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship trophy as he sped away to a grand victory in the MRF 43rd K-1000 Rally.

The three-time APRC champion underlined his class and control once again, winning all the five special stages.