Central Europe Rally 2008 : Central Europe Rally

Breaking news (GMT + 1)

11:12 - Bike

201 - CARLOS SAINZ WINS THE FIRST CENTRAL EUROPE RALLY

Having won the final stage with a lead of 1’43ā€¯ over Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi), as a result Spaniard Carlos Sainz has won the first Central Europe Rally, the inaugural event in the Dakar Series, 2’01ā€¯ in front of the Frenchman in the general standings.

10:39 - Car

201 - A 3ā€™31ā€¯ lead for Sainz at waypoint 2

Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW) passed through waypoint 2 (113 km) in the lead, 3’31ā€¯ ahead of Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi), who stopped for 1 minute just before waypoint 1.

10:17 - Car

201 - Sainz opens the gap after a just a few km!

First to start, Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW) has reached waypoint 1 (61 km), 1’17ā€¯ ahead of Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi).

10:02 - Car

212 - Problem for Gordon after 45 km

American Robby Gordon (Hummer) encountered problems with one of his wheels after 45 km of the special, but has repaired it and rejoined the race.

09:58 - Car

201 - The duel begins in the car category

Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW) kicked off proceedings at 09.16 as scheduled for the last special in the car category and the final duel for outright victory with Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi), who set off 2 minutes later. They were followed by American Robby Gordon (Hummer), Germanyā€™s Dieter Depping (VW) and Frenchman Luc Alphand (Mitsubishi). Depping and Alphand are battling it out for the third place on the final podium.

09:53 - Bike

3 - DAVID CASTEU WINS THE FIRST CENTRAL EUROPE RALLY

Frenchman David Casteu (KTM) has today won the first Central Europe Rally, the inaugural event in the Dakar Series. For the biker from Nice, this is the first victory as an official team rider and a handsome one too, 2’58ā€¯ ahead of Chilean Francisco "Chaleco" Lopez (KTM) and 19’39 in front of Alain Duclos (KTM), who took advantage of the last special stage to grab the third place on the podium from the winner of the 2007 Dakar, Frenchman Cyril Despres, who finished 14’14ā€¯ behind the dayā€™s winner.

09:47 - Bike

8 - Katrinak wins the last stage

Slovakiaā€™s Jaroslav Katrinak (KTM) has won the last stage of this first Central Europe Rally, 2’05ā€¯ ahead of Chilean Francisco Lopez (KTM) and 3’35ā€¯ in front of Frenchman David Casteu (KTM).

09:00 - Bike

8 - Katrinak leads at waypoint 1

Now that the first 18 bikes have passed through waypoint 1 (after 61 km), Slovakian Jaroslav Katrinak (KTM) leads the special, 45" ahead of Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) and 48" in front of Chilean Francisco Lopez (KTM). In provisional 4th place, the leader of the general standings David Casteu (KTM) trails the Slovakian by 1’44ā€¯ and is 58ā€¯ behind his nearest rival, Francisco Lopez.

08:29 - Bike

1 - Despres gets the last special underway

The winner of yesterdayā€™s penultimate stage, Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM), got todayā€™s special underway at 07.30 as scheduled. He was followed by Jaroslav Katrinak (KTM), Alain Duclos (KTM), Francisco Lopez (KTM) and the leader of the general standings, David Casteu (KTM).

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