The 51-year old Frenchman held off the stiff challenge of compatriot and Peugeot teammate Sebastian Loeb to add a seventh car title to his six on the motorbike.

Cyril Despres was third overall to complete an all French-Peugeot podium.

Sam Sunderland became Britain’s first Dakar champion when he celebrated overall victory in the bike class.

The 27-year-old KTM rider took the lead after stage five and never looked back to finish ahead Austrian rival Matthias Walkner.

It is the 16th straight title for KTM but for Sunderland it was at the third time of asking following two previous retirements.

Eduard Nikolaev won the trucks category.

The Russian returned Kamaz to the throne after a year off it and with the win claimed his second overall title in South America following his 2013 triumph.

Teammate and compatriot Dmitriy Sotnikov was second. (Euronews)