Nasser Al-Attiyah secures second Dakar Rally title in shortened final stage

Holding a commanding 36-minute lead heading into the finale, Qatar's Al-Attiyah and his Mini co-driver Mathieu Baumel merely needed to avoid a major collapse on the drive to Baradero, Argentina, which was shortened to 34 kilometres due to rain.

Al-Attiyah followed up his 2011 triumph to become the seventh multiple champion in the event's history, while the Mini team celebrated a fourth consecutive success.

American Robby Gordon sealed the stage win for Gordini, while South Africa's Ginel de Villiers and Poland"s Krzysztof Holowczyc were second and third respectively in the overall standings, as Al-Attiyah won by 35 minutes and 34 seconds.

"I'm delighted I've won the Dakar," Al-Attiyah told the event's official website.

"I remember that the finish was also in Baradero in 2011, so it's a really special moment for me.

"It's fantastic because we've dominated the race from the beginning and were able to control the rally throughout."

Meanwhile, Marc Coma secured a fifth championship in the bike race. The Spanish rider was 16mins 53secs ahead of Paulo Goncalves of Portugal, with Australia"s Toby Price finishing third.