The fifth stage of the 2012 Dakar Rally took place on the 5th, marking the final stage of the event in Argentina. After the first five stages, French drivers Peterhansel and Despres lead the car and motorcycle categories, respectively.
The day’s route started in Chilecito and ended in Fiambalá, Catamarca Province. The liaison and special stages for the motorcycle and quad categories were 265 km and 151 km, respectively, while those for the car and truck categories were 246 km and 177 km, respectively.
In the car category, Polish driver Łukasz Laskawiec won the stage with a time of 2 hours, 10 minutes and 51 seconds. American driver Gordon and French driver Peterhansel finished second and third with times of 2:11:52 and 2:14:43, respectively.
French motorcyclist Despres claimed the stage win in the motorcycle category with a time of 2 hours, 28 minutes and 33 seconds, followed by Spanish riders Coma and Viladoms, who trailed Despres by 1 minute 41 seconds and 12 minutes 42 seconds, respectively.
Argentine rider Patronelli and Dutch driver De Rooy won the stage in the quad and truck categories, respectively.
After the first five stages, Peterhansel leads the overall standings in the car category with a cumulative time of 11 hours, 58 minutes and 3 seconds. Polish driver Łukasz Laskawiec is in second place with 12:02:21, while Spanish rider Román ranks third with 12:08:42.
In the motorcycle category, Despres remains in the overall lead with a time of 14 hours and 19 minutes. Spanish rider Coma and Portuguese rider Rodrigues are in second and third with times of 14:28:51 and 15:06:56, respectively.
Argentine rider Maffei and Dutch driver De Rooy lead the overall standings in the quad and truck categories, respectively.
