Qatar's Al-Attiyah takes lead on first day of Dakar Rally

LIMA -- Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah conquered the first stage of the Dakar Rally in Peru on Saturday as he bids to win the gruelling off-road race for a third time.

Al-Attiyah finished the 31km leg from Lima to Pisco in 21 minutes and 51 seconds, 25 seconds ahead of Toyota teammate Bernhard ten Brinke of the Netherlands.

Peru's Nicolas Fuchs was third in his Borgward, 34 seconds off the pace.

France's nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb endured a frustrating day in his Peugeot, finishing six minutes behind Al-Attiyah after suffering brake problems.

Loeb's teammate and compatriot Stephane Peterhansel, who won last year's race, was two minutes and 15 seconds in arrears in 11th place.

Portuguese football manager Andre Villas-Boas, competing for the first time after quitting as coach of China's Shanghai SIPG in November, ended the stage in 46th place, 11 minutes off the pace.

In the motorcycle category, defending champion Sam Sunderland of Britain took the opening day honors on his KTM, finishing 32 seconds ahead of Yamaha's Adrien van Beveren of France.

This year's Dakar Rally will comprise 14 stages and cover almost 9,000km in three countries before ending in the northern Argentine city of Cordoba on January 20.