Frenchmen Stephane Peterhansel and Cyril Despres appeared poised for a Dakar Rally victory, with just one day to go.
Peterhansel consolidated Saturday his lead among the cars with a stage win that braced his position atop the general standings, while Despres benefited from a crucial mistake by defending champion Marc Coma of Spain.
The day featured a total of 352 kilometres marked by dunes, of which 276 kilometres were timed. Sunday's stage, between Pisco and Lima, only features a 29-kilometre timed special and is intended to be a triumphant ride into the Peruvian capital.
While serious setbacks for all participants remain a possibility until the end of the race in such an extreme competition, few changes are expected in the overall standings.
Peterhansel - the man who has won the most editions of the prestigious race in its three-decade history, with six wins on a motorcycle and three in a car - won the 13th stage, between Nasca and Pisco in Peru, with a lead of 08:29 over South African Giniel de Villiers.
In the overall standings, the Frenchman now stands 42:57 clear of second-placed Nani Roma of Spain, and 01:15:09 ahead of De Villiers.
"We were under psychological pressure because we came within an inch of losing the Dakar yesterday. Victories are earned day by day and I still feel like I am in the race. There is still a 30-kilometre special to go and we could have a technical problem," a cautious Peterhansel said, in comments posted on the Dakar Rally website.
In the motorcycle section of the race, Coma of Spain got lost and suffered mechanical problems Saturday and virtually handed the final victory of the race to his arch-rival Despres on a platter.
Despres is now very comfortable atop the overall standings, with little more than a fun ride left until the prestigious offroad race ends Sunday in Lima.
"Today's stage was psychologically very tough. I always wait until the last day to enjoy things. I have seen so many things happen at the Dakar, and even more today. I want to stay calm and enjoy things a bit more," Despres said.
The stage was won by Portugal's Helder Rodrigues, 47 seconds ahead of Despres. Coma had technical problems and got lost around the 207th kilometre of the stage, and ended 13:25 behind Rodrigues.
In the overall standings, Despres stands 11:03 ahead of his main rival with only 29 timed kilometres left to go. Rodrigues stands third, 01:11:27 behind the Frenchman.
"Twenty-five kilometres into the stage I had a mechanical problem which forced me to slow down. It was a gearbox problem and I feared I would not be able to continue. So I am happy to be here, in second position, which is quite good," Coma said.
Coma and Despres, both on KTM bikes, have between them won every edition of the Dakar Rally since 2005. However, neither one has managed to get back-to-back titles, which Coma hoped to do this year.
"I fought throughout the entire rally and gave it everything I had at all times. That is the way it is. I am disappointed because I was not able to fight until the end," Coma said.
Sunday's stage is intended to be triumphant ride into the Peruvian capital.
A total of 469 vehicles - cars, motorbikes, quads and trucks - set out from the Argentine seaside city of Mar del Plata on January 1. Only 253 vehicles remained in the race by Saturday.
The Dakar Rally is being held for the fourth straight year in South America. The endurance race took place in Africa from 1979-2007. It was moved to Argentina and Chile after fears of terrorist attacks in Mauritania led to a cancellation of the annual event in 2008.
Following 14 stages - one of which was cancelled due to snow - and more than 8,000 kilometres, including more than 4,000 kilometres of timed specials, the race is to end Sunday in Lima.
Argentina hosted five stages but was mostly a springboard for further action. In Chile, over five stages, the race went through the Andes and the challenging Atacama Desert. Peru became Thursday the 27th country to host the race in the history of the Dakar Rally. In its territory, participants met sand dunes which provided for plenty of excitement.
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