Argentine Patronelli won 12th stage on four-wheel vehicles

Argentina's Marcos Patronelli rides his CAN-AM quad bike during the 12th stage of the South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2009 from Fiambala to La Rioja January 15, 2009. REUTERS/Mariano Paiz (ARGENTINA)

Argentina's Marcos Patronelli rides his CAN-AM quad bike during the 12th stage of the South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2009 from Fiambala to La Rioja January 15, 2009. REUTERS/Mariano Paiz (ARGENTINA)

Argentina's Marcos Patronelli rides his CAN-AM quad bike during the 12th stage of the South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2009 from Fiambala to La Rioja January 15, 2009. REUTERS/Ariel Pacheco (ARGENTINA)

BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Argentine Marcos Patronelli won on Thursday the 12th stage on four-wheel vehicles of the Dakar Argentina-Chile Rally held in Argentine territory.

Patronelli (Can-Am) won the 12th stage with chronometer held between Fiambala and La Rioja in the north of Argentina, with a time of 4:42'58" and he continues at the 2nd place of the general board on four-wheel vehicles.

Czech Josef Machacek (Yamaha) arrived on 2nd place at 35'56" behind and French Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris) arrived on 3rd place at 36'02" behind.

Machacek is on the 1st place of the general board with time of 63:12'11", followed by Patronelli with 1:54'38" later and Deltrieu with 11:12'12" later.

Patronelli, 28 years old, is racing for the first time the Dakar Rally and has won three stages (7, 10 and 12), he had said that his great performance means he "already won the Dakar".