Due to an extremely bad weather, Dakar organizers have cancelled the 6th stage of the rally which includes a route between Fiambala to Copiapo. This route has been considered unsafe due to heavy rain and summer snow. The rain has started yesterday and resulted in shortening stage 5 by 30 miles. The stage 6 would have taken the drivers over the famous Andes mountains over the length of 405 miles. The Dakar Rally organizers have substituted the stage by a convoy that will take the all the riders and drivers to the border by the start of stage 7 on Saturday.
Stephane Peterhansel continues to lead the event, 4m18s ahead of his X-raid Mini team-mate Krzysztof Holowczyc.