Matthias Walkner, of Austria, rides his KTM motorbike during stage 13 of the 2018 Dakar Rally between San Juan and Cordoba, Argentina, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018.
Matthias Walkner, of Austria, rides his KTM motorbike during stage 13 of the 2018 Dakar Rally between San Juan and Cordoba, Argentina, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. Ricardo Mazalan AP Photo
Matthias Walkner, of Austria, rides his KTM motorbike during stage 13 of the 2018 Dakar Rally between San Juan and Cordoba, Argentina, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. Ricardo Mazalan AP Photo

Sports

Spanish driver Carlos Sainz wins his 2nd Dakar Rally title

The Associated Press

January 20, 2018 08:37 AM

CORDOBA, Argentina

Spanish driver Carlos Sainz has won his second Dakar Rally title.

The Peugeot driver climbed on top of his car at the end of the rally to celebrate on Saturday.

Sainz finished in 49 hours, 16 minutes, 18 seconds overall, and was 43 minutes ahead of second-place Nasser Al-Attiyah of Toyota.

"I am very happy because this was a very difficult Dakar, I needed this victory," Sainz said. His first title was in 2010 when he drove for Volkswagen in the second South American edition of the rally.

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South African Giniel de Villiers won the 120-kilometer (74-mile) final stage in Cordoba, Argentina. Sainz was ninth.

Austrian Matthias Walkner of KTM was the overall winner in the motorcycle race.