<p>France's Stephane Peterhansel on Friday won the Dakar Rally for the 14th time, 30 years after his initial success in the most gruelling event on motorsport's calendar.</p>.<p>Peterhansel, nicknamed 'Mr Dakar', has now won the car category eight times, having also won the motorbike category six times.</p>.<p>The 55-year-old Mini driver, aided by co-pilot Edouard Boulanger, finished ahead of Qatari Nasser al-Attiyah (Toyota), with Spain's Carlos Sainz rounding out the podium in another Mini.</p>.<p>Peterhansel's victory came shortly after news that French motorcyclist Pierre Cherpin had died from his injuries after a fall, becoming the race's first fatality this year.</p>.<p>Argentina's Kevin Benavides won the motorbike category, leading home defending champion Ricky Brabec of the United States in a first Honda 1-2 since 1987.</p>.<p>Briton Sam Sunderland, the 2017 champion, finished third.</p>.<p>Benavides, who broke his nose in a crash on the fifth stage that saw his helmet shattered, became the first South American to win the category, calling it "absolutely crazy".</p>.<p>"I went at 110 percent, but now it's true: I've won the Dakar - I'm so, so happy! I did some mistakes, for sure. I think it's impossible to do a perfect Dakar," he said.</p>.<p>"The important thing is to always continue, to stay calm and focused day by day and to work hard day by day."</p>.<p>Brabec admitted to feeling "pretty bummed" at not defending his title, but added that "number two will work".</p>.<p>"I didn't even know that Honda had already won a one and two finish. I wasn't even born in 1987! It's cool to go one and two again."</p>
<p>France's Stephane Peterhansel on Friday won the Dakar Rally for the 14th time, 30 years after his initial success in the most gruelling event on motorsport's calendar.</p>.<p>Peterhansel, nicknamed 'Mr Dakar', has now won the car category eight times, having also won the motorbike category six times.</p>.<p>The 55-year-old Mini driver, aided by co-pilot Edouard Boulanger, finished ahead of Qatari Nasser al-Attiyah (Toyota), with Spain's Carlos Sainz rounding out the podium in another Mini.</p>.<p>Peterhansel's victory came shortly after news that French motorcyclist Pierre Cherpin had died from his injuries after a fall, becoming the race's first fatality this year.</p>.<p>Argentina's Kevin Benavides won the motorbike category, leading home defending champion Ricky Brabec of the United States in a first Honda 1-2 since 1987.</p>.<p>Briton Sam Sunderland, the 2017 champion, finished third.</p>.<p>Benavides, who broke his nose in a crash on the fifth stage that saw his helmet shattered, became the first South American to win the category, calling it "absolutely crazy".</p>.<p>"I went at 110 percent, but now it's true: I've won the Dakar - I'm so, so happy! I did some mistakes, for sure. I think it's impossible to do a perfect Dakar," he said.</p>.<p>"The important thing is to always continue, to stay calm and focused day by day and to work hard day by day."</p>.<p>Brabec admitted to feeling "pretty bummed" at not defending his title, but added that "number two will work".</p>.<p>"I didn't even know that Honda had already won a one and two finish. I wasn't even born in 1987! It's cool to go one and two again."</p>