Dakar 2017, Stage 2: Loeb sees off Al-Attiyah to take lead

Loeb, who was sixth in Monday's 39km opener, was pessimistic about the Peugeot 3008DKR's chances through the WRC-style sprint stages in the aftermath of technical rule changes for this year's race.

However, the Frenchman wound up leading at every split of the 275km timed section within the Resistencia – San Miguel de Tucuman stage, and was 1m23s clear at the finish line for the fifth stage win of his Dakar career.

Al-Attiyah managed to limit his losses by finishing the stage in second, the Qatari remaining within half a minute of Loeb.

Their respective teammates – Carlos Sainz of Peugeot and Giniel de Villiers of Toyota – were closely-matched through the stage, and are now sat at around two minutes adrift of the lead in third and fourth.

Nani Roma made it three Toyotas in the top five, both in the stage and overall.

Peugeot's two remaining cars were more noticeably off the pace, reigning champion Stephane Peterhansel dropping almost seven minutes and Cyril Despres losing more than 10.

As a result, Peterhansel is now sat seventh overall, between the two X-Raid Minis of Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Mikko Hirvonen, while Despres has dropped down to 11th.

Ex-WRC driver Xevi Pons, who was an impressive second in the opening stage in the South Racing Ford Ranger, was forced to retire from the event, having rolled his car early on in the second run and lost a wheel later on.

Cars standings after Stage 2: