HA’IL, Saudi Arabia – Carlos Sainz Sr. was untouched en route to victory in Friday’s Dakar Rally stage to inch back into contention for the overall victory.

The Mini X-Raid driver led the entire way during the 348 kilometer shortened stage, winning by more than four minutes ahead of Yazeed Al Rajhi.

Meanwhile, Stephane Peterhansel finished the day fourth and holds a nearly six minute lead over Nasser Al-Attiyah. Sainz was able to gain several minutes thanks to his stage victory on Friday, but he still sits just more than 40 minutes behind Peterhansel in third.

In the motorcycle battle, Honda rider Joan Barreda Bort picked up the stage victory Friday, beating Ross Branch by a scant 13 second margin. At the top of the class rankings, Toby Price holds the top spot by just more than two minutes ahead of Kevin Benavides.

France’s Alexandre Giroud won Friday’s quad stage, with Nicolas Cavigliasso continuing to maintain a more than 30 minutes lead in the division. Airat Mardeev picked up the truck class stage victory ahead of class leader Dmitry Sotnikov, who still leads the class by more than 37 minutes.

American Seth Quintero won Friday’s lightweight stage. Aron Domzala holding a 40-second advantage ahead of another American, Austin Jones, in the lightweight rankings.