Vasilyev keeps Mini dominance in Dakar rally

Russian driver Vladimir Vasilyev continued Mini's dominance in the 2015 Dakar Rally by winning the fifth stage in the car category while defending motorcycle champion Marc Coma finally tasted his first victory in this year's edition.

The fifth stage, competed alongside the shores of the Pacific Ocean, included 458km special run from Chile's Atacama desert, the driest place on earth, to the coastal stop of Antofagasta, reports Xinhua.

Vasilyev clinched his first stage win in the 2015 edition with a time of four hours 19 minutes and 18 seconds, while his team Mini, the defending champions last year, made it five stage wins in five this year.

Saudi Arabia's Yazeed Alrajhi from Toyota gained second place in the stage, lagging behind Vasilyev by only 20 seconds.

The Hummer of American driver Robbie Gordon was third on the day with one minutes and 25 seconds further back of Vasilyev.

The overall standings was still led by Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah behind the wheel of Mini as the 2011 champion finished fourth Thursday.

Eleven-time champion Stephane Peterhansel in a Peugeot ranked fifth in the stage.

Friday' s sixth stage will climb up the Pacific coast towards Iquique, after which every competitors will have taken part in a marathon stage.

The marathon stages, where drivers cannot use their assistance teams, are a particular test of their ability to independently manage their mechanics.

This year, cars and trucks, which have not taken part in a marathon stage since 2005, will have to tackle this additional difficulty.

KTM' s four-time motorcycling winner Marc Coma from Spain claimed his first stage victory of the 2015 edition, finishing the run to Antofagasta ahead of compatriot and overall leader Joan Barreda on a Honda.

Chile's Pablo Quintanilla took third place in the stage.