This much we know – Minis will sweep top three podium positions at the 2014 Dakar Rally – what we don’t know after the completion of the 12th stage is if that order will be Spain’s Nani Roma in first or 11-time Dakar champ Stephane Peterhansel in first [we know 2011 Dakar champ Nasser Al-Attiyah will be third because he’s a distant 54 minutes back]. After receiving their marching orders from Mini before Stage 11 to finish the race in order with Roma leading and Peterhansel in second, Peterhansel intentionally slowed his vehicle down and dropped three minutes further back of Roma to comply with the order during the stage. But in the 12th stage Roma suffered a tire puncture and Peterhansel passed him but then paused to wait for Roma to fix the tire, catch up and retake the lead. Roma, however, declined to take the lead and allowed Peterhansel to win the stage and take a 26-second overall lead in the race with the final stage set for today.
All Americans have departed the race with B.J. Baldwin leaving in the 10th stage and Robby Gordon leaving in the 11th stage – both with fuel-related issues.