Special Motorsports Events - Dakar Stage 1 Results - Cars

Russian driver Leonid Novitskiy won the opening stage of the 2012 Dakar Rally in the car category ahead of fellow Mini entrants Krzysztof Holowczyc and nine-times Dakar winner Stephane Peterhansel.

Novitskiy completed the 57km special stage between Necochea and Energia in Argentina in 32 minutes 12 seconds, just five seconds ahead of Pole Holowczyc and nine clear of Frenchman Peterhansel.

It was Novitskiy's first Dakar stage win as he begins his fourth appearance in one of the most gruelling of sporting spectacles. He placed eighth overall in 2009 and 11th in 2010.

Peterhansel won six editions of the Dakar on a motorcycle in the Nineties then three editions of the car competition in 2001, 2004 and 2005. Holowczyc won the Silk Way Rally with Mini in 2011.

Mini are looking to fight with Hummer for success in this year's race in the absence of Volkswagen.

Defending champion Nasser Al-Attiyah lost a huge 10 minutes in his Hummer on the short stage after suffering an engine problem two kilometres from the finish - he stands 38th - whereas 2009 winner Giniel de Villiers was fourth in his Toyota pick-up, 15s off the lead.

Robby Gordon, also considered a viable winner, was fifth in his Hummer while Carlos Sousa (Great Wall) was sixth ahead of Christian Lavieille (Proto Dessoude). Gordon would have won the stage had he not stopped to tow team-mate Al-Attiyah to the finish.

Nani Roma (Mini) was down in 13th, 2:20 off the lead. He won the motorcycle category in 2004 and has since entered in a car.

Alfie Cox was forced out of the race when his Volvo caught fire and burned to the ground.

The stage was marred by the death of Argentine motorcyclist Jorge Martinez Boero just two kilometres from the finish.

Following the special section, the competitors have 600km to bivouac to reach Santa Rosa de la Pampa.