A very hard Dakar stage in 42 degree heat that wilted many competitors was just the opportunity Toby Price needed to break into the top five standings of the world’s biggest off-road race overnight.

The second stage of the rally, from Villa Carlos Paz to San Juan contained the longest special stage of the entire race, a 518 km test which saw Day one winner Sam Sunderland lose his way and drop over two hours to the race leaders.

Four-time Dakar winner and defending champion Marc Coma also encountered difficulties, and was forced to limp home with an ailing rear tyre.

Australian Dakar rookie Toby Price made ground after yesterday’s positive 11th place start, and despite becoming misplaced momentarily, managed to log an incredible fifth-place finish on his KTM 450 Rally, in only his second day of Dakar racing. The result saw Price leap-frog sixth places into fifth place in the overall standings.

“Today was incredibly hot in the sand dunes and we all got cooked, other than that it was all good and extremely happy to be sitting in fifth position after stage two,” Price said. “Everything went well for the first 300km but then the navigation got more difficult so I slowed down to make sure we stayed on top of the road book.”

Tomorrow’s comparatively shorter 657 km day from San Juan to Chilecito features a 220km special stage as well some of the most spectacular scenery in Argentina, with red Earth tracks steep peaks and plunging canyons.