Veteran Ma Junkun became the third Chinese to pull out from the Dakar Rally after he failed to reach the camp in time in the sixth stage. Ma joined two other Chinese, seven-time Dakar veteran Lu Ningjun and Guo Hongzhi, on the Chinese withdraw list.

But Zhou Yong of China looks set to rewrite the history book by a driver as he equaled the best performance by a Chinese at the Dakar Rally. Zhou finished Sunday's seventh stage in 15th place in 3hr, 44min and 56sec and is now 19th overall. China's talented driver Xu Lang, who died in an accident in 2008, finished the 2006 Dakar Rally 19th overall.

Chery Rely X5 driver Liu Kun completed the seventh stage over 273km from Arica to Antofagasta in 30th place and is now 48th overall.

Rely-Double Star teammate Jiang Yaohuan, last year's 29th-place finisher and also driving a Rely X5, was penalized and fell from 30th place 76th of the stage.

Overall, Jiang is 53rd.

In motorcycling, Su Wenmin was 64th in the stage and 75th overall.

Motorcyclist Han Baohua and driver Zhou Yuande still had not arrived at the camp at midnight (local time).

China Daily