Patronelli, firm in the leading place of Dakar quads

Argentine Alejandro Patronelli keeps leading the general results after the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally covering the 456 kilometres between Iquique and Arica in 06:41:33 hours.

Meanwhile, Maffei arrived 15 minutes and 4 seconds after his fellow patriot and adding a 1 minute sanction. He closely follows Patronelli from the second place in the general results, 16 and 31 minutes behind the current leader.

Czech Josef Machacek keeps on the third place, while Argentine Sebastián Halpern was left in the sixth place.

Nevertheless, Halpern still has his place at the podium on the general placing with a difference of 01:48:07 hours with fellow patriot Patronelli.

Pilots will have a free day on Saturday, before continuing with the seventh stage on Sunday.

The route that will link Arica with Antofagasta will be divided into to two. During the stage that might define the first places of the competition, pilots will have to go through dunes and canyons.