Qatar's Al-Attiyah reaches Dakar with the fourth fastest time for the X-Raid Team...

Qatar's Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and French co-driver Alain Guehennec arrived in Dakar in fourth position, after the 14th leg of the 29th Dakar Rally between Tambacounda and Dakar on Saturday.

The reigning P-WRC champion managed to reduce Jean-Louis Schlesser's hold on third place by 4m 06s, but it does not seem to be enough and the X-Raid driver looks set to provisionally finish the Dakar in fourth position when the event draws to a close at Lac Rose on Sunday morning. The outcome of the final podium position may well be decided at the appeal courts at a later date.

"I am always mindful of what can happen on the last couple of stages through Black Africa on the way to Dakar," said X-Raid Team Director Sven Quandt. "Last year Monterde had a driveshaft problem and lost a lot of time, so we tried to cover ourselves as well as possible to try and prevent any last minute panics which can ruin 15 days' hard work. As it happened it was another good day and we are on the way to taking four of our five cars to the finish in Dakar."

German driver Jutta Kleinschmidt and Swedish co-driver Tina Thörner had retained 15th place at the start of the final Black African stage into Dakar this morning and were an excellent eighth fastest on the special to maintain 15th.

Spaniard José-Luis Monterde and Jean-Marie Lurquin began the day in 16th position, but lost over 25 minutes to the leaders and finished the stage in 43rd place, although Monterde retained 16th overall.

Brazilian Paulo Nobre and co-driver Filipe Palmeiro were 40th this morning in their BMW X5 and set the 24th fastest time into Dakar. They retained a position inside the top 40.

Major support for the X-Raid team comes from Hessen-based sponsor TrekStor,Magna Steyr, BMW Motoren GmbH, Reiger, BF Goodrich, MAN, Sabelt and BBS.

On Sunday, teams tackle the traditional finale to the event - a nail-biting 16km special at Lac Rose - before returning to Dakar.

1. Carlos Sainz (E)/Michel Périn (F) Volkswagen Touareg 2h 21m 02s

2. Giniel de Villiers (ZA)/Dirk Von Zitzewitz (D) Volkswagen Touareg 2h21m 09s

3. Carlos Sousa (P)/Andreas Schulz (D) Volkswagen Touareg 2h21m 47s

4. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QA)/Alain Guehennec (F) BMW X3CC 2h 22m 54s

5. Robby Gordon (USA)/Andy Grider (USA) Hummer 2h 22m 56s

6. Mark Miller (USA)/Ralph Pitchford (ZA) Volkswagen Touareg 2h23m 04s

7. Luc Alphand (F)/Gilles Picard (F) Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Evolution
   2h25m 24s

8. Jutta Kleinschmidt (D)/Tina Thörner (S) BMW X3 CC 2h 26m 40s

1. Stéphane Peterhansel (F)/Jean-Paul Cottret (F) Mitsubishi
    Pajero/MonteroEvolution 45h 42m 45s

2. Luc Alphand (F)/Gilles Picard (F) Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Evolution
    45h 50m 01s

3. Jean-Louis Schlesser (F)/Arnaud Debron (F) Schlesser-Ford 47h19m 09s

4. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QA)/Alain Guehennec (F) BMW X3CC 47h 46m 01s

5. Mark Miller (USA)/Ralph Pitchford (ZA) Volkswagen Touareg 47h54m 13s

6. Hiroshi Masuoka (J)/Pascal Maimon (F) Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero
    Evolution48h 28m 16s

7. Carlos Sousa (P)/Andreas Schulz (D) Volkswagen Touareg 50h56m 07s

8. Robby Gordon (USA)/Andy Grider (USA) Hummer 52h 49m 36s

9. Carlos Sainz (E)/Michel Périn (F) Volkswagen Touareg 53h 11m 38s

10. Stéphane Henrard (B)Brigette Beceu (B) Volkswagen Buggy 54h12m 12s

15. Jutta Kleinschmidt (D)/Tina Thörner (S) BMW X3 CC 56h 13m 38s

16. José-Luis Monterde (E)/Jean-Marie Lurquin (B) BMW X5 57h 19m 33s

40. Paulo Nobre (BRE)/Filipe Palmeiro (P) BMW X5 64h 00m 28s

- X- Raid Team-
photos on automobilsport.com under PHOTOS - OFF ROAD