Argentine Orlando Terranova claimed his fourth stage win in the penultimate 12th stage of the Dakar Rally on Friday, as Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah closed in on a second overall title.
Argentine Mini driver Orlando Terranova (R) and co-driver Graue Bernardo compete during the Stage 11 of the Dakar 2015 between Salta and Termas de Rio Hondo, Argentina, on January 15, 2015
Terranova, 35, finished half a minute ahead of another Mini driven by Russian Vladimir Vasilyev with the Duster Renault of fellow Argentine Emiliano Spataro 1min 29sec behind after the 1024km run, with 298km timed, from Termas de Rio Hondo to Rosario.
It was an 11th stage win by the Mini team.
Al-Attiyah, winner in 2011, finished fourth 1min 37sec behind Terranova but the Mini driver is almost certain of victory on Saturday in Buenos Aires, as the 44-year-old holds a lead of almost 36 minutes on South African Giniel de Villiers, which he extended by a further seven minutes on Friday.
"It was very nice to drive, but a little risky," said Terranova.
"By the end we had caught up with Nasser and ended up in the dust. When we came to the finish, there were a lot of people by the road and it was very nice."
In the motorbikes, Australian rookie Toby Price rode his KTM to a dominant victory as Spaniard Marc Coma moved closer to a fifth title.
"It's my first go at the Dakar, but like we say, we've still got one day to go," said Price after his first stage win.
"Anything could happen and at this stage everything is just feeling good. There have been a lot of highs and lows and good learning curves as well as a few mistakes, but we're trying to fix them as best as we can and get to the finishing line."
Coma played it safe to finish sixth at 6min 25sec behind Price who had led from start to finish.
"There was a lot to lose and it was important to not make any mistakes or crash and just to arrive at the finish," said Coma.
Spaniard Joan Barreda Bort finished second at 1min 55sec with fellow Honda rider Paulo Goncalves of Portugal third at 3min 02sec.
Goncalves, second in the overall standings, only took back 3min 23sec on Coma, with the Spaniard holding a comfortable 18-minute advantage.
Price consolidated his overall third place, taking more than ten minutes on Chilean rival Pablo Quintanilla, who finished eighth.