Loeb concedes Dakar defeat: “Pushing now would be crazy”

The nine-time WRC champion entered the penultimate San Juan–Rio Cuarto stage 5m50s adrift of Peterhansel, and while he looked set to negate much of the reigning champion's advantage, a puncture in the second half of the test meant he could only claw back 18 seconds.

“Today we pushed really hard in the first stage [before the neutralised zone], we could close the gap, we took nearly three minutes to Stephane,” said Loeb.

“And in the second stage I had a puncture in the first corner, so we had to stop, change the wheel.

“We lost everything there. [It was] maybe a little rock inside, but not off the road. In the corner, I had a puncture in the inside tyre. I don't know [the cause].”

With the final stage from Rio Cuarto to Buenos Aires featuring only 64 timed kilometres, Loeb is certain he cannot make up the gap to Peterhansel by pushing.

“No need to try now," added the Frenchman. "The gap is too important, no need to try anything. Tomorrow I think I will not to take big risks, like I did today or yesterday.

“It would be crazy. The gap is what it is. Now we have to finish.”

He added: “For sure, it's a bit disappointing, when you know I was fighting and trying really hard since yesterday, and we were able to make the gap - and finally now we lost everything on one puncture.

"It's the race, it's like this, for sure it's a bit frustrating.”

Asked by Motorsport.com whether he felt proud of his second attempt at the Dakar despite the victory slipping away, Loeb said: “I think we did a good race. We lost 26 minutes [on Stage 4] to a mechanical problem.

“Since that we came back, we closed the gap, and we were fighting to take the lead again... so it was really good. But one of us has to win and I think it will not be me.”