The Nissan driver covered the 586 kilometre run between Kiffa in Mauritania and the Mali capital in a time of seven hours 20 minutes 58 seconds.

Peterhansel finished over 3min adrift in second to retain the overall lead with Luc Alphand taking third.

The motorbike stage was cancelled after the death Tuesday of two-time winner Fabrizio Meoni of Italy.

With four days to go before the finish in Dakar, Peterhansel holds a lead of 1hr 18min 47sec over former world ski champion Alphand in the car standings with Germany's Jutta Kleinschmidt in third.

Thursday's 13th stage consists of a 370km run between Bamako and Kayes.

(Photo Source: AFP) 

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