Just 29 more kilometres, that is all that make up the final stage SS14, remain to be contested today. "If have to do them reverse and on my head, this victory is mine," said rally leader Gerard de Rooy last night after he took the sixth place on the penultimate stage. Yesterday’s victory went to the Russian, Karbinov (Kamaz). “He drove so fast; it wouldn’t surprise me when Chagin was behind the wheel of the Kamaz”, said Gerard.

The sixth place was actually De Rooy’s lowest finish on any stage of this year's rally as, with a very solid cushion at the front, he backed off to preserve his truck. "You don’t have to win even one stage to win the Dakar," he said. "Look at Hans (Stacey) he didn’t win a stage but he does take the second place." The ultimate goal, that of Dakar victory, has been simply all that mattered over last two weeks for Gerard de Rooy. And 25 years after his father won the legendary rally, a lot must go wrong if he’s not to be the winner in Lima this evening.

Jan de Rooy was actually in Pisco, on this second to last day and was very emotional when his son entered the bivouac. "He did a great job, I’m so proud of that lad," said De Rooy senior, 25 years after his own win. "I'm more proud of him as I was of my own victory. That’s such a long time ago. Since we made our come-back in the Dakar 10 years ago a lot of water flew under the bridge. We experienced a lot of bad luck. Now that I see Gerard standing here, almost a Dakar winner, all these things pass by again. The price was high, but this is why we did it all."

Yesterday's stage was in fact quite tough with a lot of tricky dunes. De Rooy in the #502 Iveco Powerstar even got stuck once. "It was a super special, but I didn’t enjoy it very much. The pressure was extremely high. Every time I heard an unusual noise I thought 'oh my God, what’s that? Is everything ok, are we still going?'"

Stacey was also under high pressure. "Gerard got stuck and stood on the nose of his truck to warn us so we didn’t get stuck too. Miki Biasion (#511 Iveco Trakker) pulled him out and I drove in front so I wouldn’t lose time. But suddenly I didn’t see them anymore in my mirrors. I drove around to look where they were. It was a relief when I saw that green nose coming over the top of a dune."

Stacey finished third and is poised to take second place in the general rankings tonight to give Iveco and Team De Rooy a 1-2 victory on the Dakar 2012. "You are strained to the limit in this last serious stage," said Stacey. "Not nervous but strained; you have to get your truck to the finish. Of course you have to do that every day but this time it was different. I’m really glad that we’re here. What a relief."