It's early days so far in the 2010 Dakar Rally, which started in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 2nd January.

At the end of the 3rd stage (of 14 in total), the current leader is the BMW of Stephane Peterhansel, less than five minutes in front of the Volkswagen of Carlos Sainz. Other Volkswagens are also currently third, fourth, tenth, fifteenth and twenty-fourth overall after 3 stages. The best of the once-dominant Mitsubishis is currently sixth, while the best Toyota is twelfth.

The fourth stage starts tonight, our time.

http://www.dakar.com/us/DAKAR/2010/live.html 

cheers for the update!

4th Stage result - the Hummer of Robbie Gordon won last night's 205 km fourth stage, one second ahead of the BMW of Stephane Peterhansel. The Volkswagen Touaregs finished third, fourth, fifth and sixth on the stage, from 2 to 6 minutes further back.

Peterhansel's BMW continues to lead overall, now 7 minutes in front of Carlos Sainz's Volkswagen. The other VWs are third, fourth, tenth, twelfth and twentieth.

Tonight's 5th stage is rather longer, 483 km.

Oh - and 'Nani' Roma who's driving the BMW in the first pic, doing all it can to hold up Sainz's Race Touareg... well Roma's now out after another rollover that knocked a couple of corners off his BMW.

Volkswagen takes the lead and is now 1-2-3 overall.

Stage 5 result - it has been a real Volkswagen day today as the event settles down to some serious rally driving after the easy opening stages. The Stage 5 winner was the VW Race Touareg of Mark Miller (US), followed by the VW of Carlos Sainz (Spain) and the VW of Nassar Al-Attyiah (Qatar). A powerful 1-2-3 result for Volkswagen, ahead of Robbie Gordon's Hummer and another VW in fifth. The BMW of Peterhansel, which led the event yesterday, had mechanical problems and was sidelined for half an hour.

Volkswagen now leads the 2010 Dakar event overall, with Carlos Sainz's VW in 1st place. The VW of Al-Attiyah is running second, and the VW of Millier is third overall. Only 9 minutes separate the leading VWs. Gordon's Hummer is 59 minutes back in 4th overall. The other VWs are now in seventh, eleventh and eighteenth. The previously leading BMW is now tenth. The best Mitsubishi is fifth, 1 hour 13 minutes behind the leading Volkswagen, and the best Nissan is sixth, 1 hour 16 minutes behind. The best Toyota is twenty-third, 5 hours 23 minutes behind.

Oh Vot A Veeling.....Great results so far

VWs retain the lead after Stage 6.

Last night's 418 km Sixth Stage was won by BMW driver Stephan Peterhansel (France), who finished just 47 seconds in front of the Volkswagen of Carlos Sainz. The VW of Mark Miller was 8 minutes back in third, and another VW (Al Attiyiah) was 11 minutes back to finish fourth in the stage.

Overall, Volkswagen remains 1-2-3. Carlos Sainz is the leader, Al Attiyiah is second (15 minutes behind) and Miler is third, 17 minutes behind. Sainz has stretched his lead over the other two VWs slightly. Then there is a large gap, 1 hour 34 minutes, to the Mitsubishi in fourth place. The other two remaining VWs are in thirteenth and sixteenth place. The VW of Neves has retired.

Volkswagen leads 1-2-3 at half-way, with a Rest Day today.

Stage 7 was a good fight between the Volkswagen and BMW teams. The winner of Stage 7 was the Volkswagen Race Touareg of Al Attiyiah of Qatar, just 3 minutes in front of the BMW of Peterhansel after a 5 hour 40 minute stage. The VW of Carlos Sainz was third, only 4 minutes off the lead, and the VW of Mark Miller was fourth, 8 minutes behind. Another BMW finished fifth and the VW of de Villiers was sixth.

At the half-way point of the 2010 Dakar, Volkswagen is in a dominant 1-2-3 position. Carlos Sainz still leads, with Al-Attiyiah in second only 11 minutes behind (after 26 hours of timed stages). Third is Mark Miller, 22 minutes behind the leading VW. Then a big gap of 2 hours back to two BMWs and a Nissan, and 3 hours back to the first Mitsubishi, running seventh. The other two remaining VW Touaregs are twelfth and eighteenth. Robbie Gordon's Hummer is tenth. The best Toyota is 20th, 9 hours behind the leading VW.

Volkswagen still 1-2-3 after Stage 8

The BMW of Stephane Peterhansel was fastest on the 472 km Stage 8 of the 2010 Dakar Rally last night - but only just. He beat Carlos Sainz's Volkswagen by 45 seconds. VWs also finished third, fourth and fifth on the stage, with only 4 minutes separating all of them.

Overall, Carlos Sainz's Volkswagen continues to lead after 8 stages and 31 hours of competition driving. In second is the VW of Al-Attiyiah, 14 minutes behind, and third is the VW of Mark Miller, 22 minutes behinf Sainz. Fourth is Peterhansel's BMW, but he is 2 hours behind. Another BMW is fifth, followed by a Nissan and two Mitsubishis. The other two remaining VWs are ninth and sixteenth.

There are just six stages to go now.

How's about that - Carlos Sainz first ever win at Dakar (he's only come 2nd 4 times so far), and Volkswagen's 1 2 3.... doesn't it make ya proud to be a VW fan ?!?!?