Loeb gets into Dakar Rally desert swing

FRENCHMAN Sebastien Loeb claimed victory in the second stage of the Dakar Rally raced across challenging desert dunes on Tuesday, as main rivals Stephane Peterhansel and Nasser Al-Attiyah had days to forget. Nine-time world rally champion Loeb, driving a private Peugeot entry after the French car manufacturer’s decision to withdraw from the race, held off the Mini of Nani Roma over the last kilometres of the second of 10 stages between Pisco and San Juan de Marcona to win by eight seconds. “Today it all came right and we feel really good about it,” said Loeb who climbs to fifth overall at 1min 56sec.