Day: 12

Course: 786km

Special: 64km

British Red Bull KTM rider Sam Sunderland has become the first British rider to win the Dakar Rally, claiming honours in the first Dakar he’s ever finished, ending the 12-day event with a comfortable 32-minute buffer over teammate Mattias Walkner.

“It’s a really overwhelming feeling,” Sunderland said following his historic win. “The weight on my shoulders of the race over the last week, leading the rally has been really heavy. To finish here is incredible.

“It’s the first Dakar I’ve ever finished and to finish first is an incredible feeling. I’m really lost for words.”

Sam Sunderland (GBR) of Red Bull KTM Factory Team at the finish line of stage 12 of Rally Dakar 2017 from Rio Cuarto to Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 14, 2017.
Sam Sunderland (GBR) of Red Bull KTM Factory Team at the finish line of stage 12 of Rally Dakar 2017 from Rio Cuarto to Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 14, 2017.

The final 65km special would decide the last step of the podium between Frenchman Adrien van Beveren (Yamaha) and Spanish rider Gerard Farres Guell (KTM). The pair finished with a dead heat and while van Beveren was initially celebrating the stage win and podium placing, a speeding  penalty relegated him to second place handing his Spanish rival the stage victory for an all-KTM overall podium.

“I’m frustrated because I enjoy winning,” the Frenchman said. “I enjoy standing on the podium and that won’t be happening today. I’ll come back stronger.”

Honda’s hard charger Joan Barreda finished the stage in third place just 18 seconds down on the battling duo and, despite a strong second week, was unable to recover from his heavy one-hour time penalty in week one and finished as the top-placed Honda rider in fifth overall.

Sam Sunderland (GBR) of Red Bull KTM Factory Team at the finish line of stage 12 of Rally Dakar 2017 from Rio Cuarto to Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 14, 2017.
Sam Sunderland (GBR) of Red Bull KTM Factory Team at the finish line of stage 12 of Rally Dakar 2017 from Rio Cuarto to Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 14, 2017.

Todd Smith (KTM) finished the stage in 43rd place and concluded the event ranked a highly credible and impressive 18th overall. Aussie privateer Matthew Hart (Husqvarna) finished the day as the 35th fastest rider to rank 44th overall in his maiden Dakar Rally. Hart ended the 12-day event as the 10th highest rookie from the 29 first timers who finished the race.

Anastasiya Nifontova (RUS) of HT Husqvarna Rally Raid at the finish line of stage 12 of Rally Dakar 2017 from Rio Cuarto to Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 14, 2017.
Anastasiya Nifontova (RUS) of HT Husqvarna Rally Raid at the finish line of stage 12 of Rally Dakar 2017 from Rio Cuarto to Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 14, 2017.

Stage   Overall

Barreda (Spain)            3rd       5th

Sunderland (GBr)         6th       1st

Walkner (Aut)               4th       2nd

Farres Guell (Spa)        1st       3rd

Van Beveren (Fra)        2nd      4th

Smith (Aus)                  43rd     18th

Hart (Aus)                     35th     44th

KAMAZ - Master Team celebrates with is Team at the finish line of stage 12 of Rally Dakar 2017 from Rio Cuarto to Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 14, 2017.
KAMAZ – Master Team celebrates with is Team at the finish line of stage 12 of Rally Dakar 2017 from Rio Cuarto to Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 14, 2017.