DAKAR -- Stephane Peterhansel virtually sealed victory in the Dakar Rally on Saturday after a steady drive on the penultimate stage.

The French Mitsubishi driver, bidding to become the first person to win both the motorbike and car categories, finished the 191-km 16th stage from Nouackchott on Mauritania's Atlantic coast to the Senegalese border in ninth place, nearly six minutes behind stage winner Jutta Kleinschmidt of Germany.

Kleinschmidt finished the stage in two hours 34 minutes 49 seconds to clinch a first stage win for her Volkswagen team. France's Luc Alphand was second, 59 seconds behind in his BMW.

Peterhansel's closest challenger, Japan's Hiroshi Masuoka, was third in his Mitsubishi but is over 51 minutes behind with just Sunday's straightforward 27-km special stage to come.

"I am absolutely delighted and I dedicate this victory to the whole team," a delighted Kleinschmidt said on Volkswagen's Dakar Rally Web site.

In the motorbike section France's Richard Sainct kept his hopes alive by winning the stage in two hours 21 minutes -- more than two minutes ahead of overall leader Joan Roma of Spain.

But Roma will still start the final stage with a five-minute cushion.