Peterhansel closes in on Dakar hat-trick

Mini driver Stephane Peterhansel and co-pilot Jean Paul Cottret, both of France, race down a dune during the ninth stage of the Dakar Rally. Photo / AP

French rally great Stephane Peterhansel boosted his hopes of a hat-trick of Dakar Rally wins as he won Tuesday's ninth stage of the race in South America.

Peterhansel guided his Mini home fastest on the 459km leg - 422km timed - from Calama to Iquique in Chile.

The 48-year-old - who, if successful this year, would make it six wins in the car category to equal the amount he won in the motorbike section - shaved more than 11 minutes off overall leader Nani Roma's advantage with his win.

He is just over 12 minutes adrift of the lead with the race finishing on Saturday.

Peterhansel, who had a wretched start to the Rally but has surged back into contention, timed 4hr 17min 53sec, while Monday's stage winner Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah was second, 2min 17sec adrift.

Roma was third, more than 11 minutes slower.

Roma, winner of the motorcycling event in the 2004 edition and runner-up two years ago, will be keen to re-establish his authority on Wednesday.

However, Peterhansel insisted there would be no let-up from him as he seeks victory.

"For sure, I am in a good position because I have no pressure because I am not the leader.

"Now I'm trying to drive as fast as possible. I'm taking real pleasure in it now because I have nothing to lose.

"At the end, I'm second and it's not my goal to finish second. So I will push and we will see what happens."

KTM rider Marc Coma of Spain rides his motorcycle during the ninth stage of the Dakar Rally. Photo / AP

Earlier, Spanish rider Marc Coma moved a step closer to a fourth Dakar Rally motorcycling crown with a stage victory.

The 37-year-old brought his KTM bike home in 4hr 49min 05sec, more than a minute ahead of compatriot Joan Barreda - who was runner-up for the second successive day - while Monday's stage winner France's five-time overall winner Cyril Despres was third, five minutes adrift.

Coma leads Barreda by 40min 19sec in the overall standings while another Spaniard Jordi Viladoms is third but lies more than 90 minutes in arrears.

While Coma described the stage as being a complicated one, he was delighted with the final outcome.

"It was very nice and very fast at the beginning but, on the last part, we found some dunes.

"I tried to catch Joan, because he started two minutes in front of me. When I caught up with him, I tried to follow to ride together to the end. It was a good day for me."

Wednesday's 10th stage is set to test all the competitors as it comprises a 631km timed section.

-AAP