NASCAR’s Gordon caught cheating, disqualified

Spain's Joan Roma won the 10th stage of the Dakar Rally ahead of Mini teammate Stephane Peterhansel, who finished 21 seconds behind to extend his overall lead in the car category. Peterhansel now leads Roma by just over 19 minutes.

American NASCAR driver and team owner Robby Gordon, who was fourth in the 377km stage in Chile, has been disqualified from the Rally due to technical irregularities in his Hummer.

Gordon has appealed the decision and will be allowed to finish the race.

In the motorbikes, Spaniard Joan Barreda Bort won, with countryman and defending champion Marc Coma just over a minute behind.

Cyril Despres of France was third but leads KTM team-mate Coma overall by 21 seconds.

The motorbikes race is going down to the wire as the rally moves into Peru and ends three days later in the capital Lima.

"At this level, every second counts,'' Despres said.

"It's a scenario that I thought might happen, so I'm not surprised. I'm just happy to have got through another day. In any case, staying out in front for the whole 377km while riding flat out isn't easy.''

Coma says the winner might be decided on the final day.

"It's the tone that's been set for the rally and I think we'll keep on battling until the end,'' Coma said. "We keep trying to make the difference all the time and the entry into Peru will be decisive. The race will hinge on the smallest of margins.''