Volkswagen has made motorsport history in Argentina by locking other teams out of the top two spots of the Dakar Rally and also claiming the first diesel-powered victory ever in the race's history.

The Volkswagen team of De Villiers and German co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz crossed the Buenos Aires finish line in their TDI-engined Race Touareg more than an hour and a half ahead of third placed Hummer.

Mark Miller and Ralph Pitchford were just nine minutes behind De Villiers in another Volkswagen to claim the second position for the carmaker, whose vehicles appeal to many luxury car hire fans.

"The key to our success was the Race Touareg, which ran like a charm throughout, and I want to thank everyone at Volkswagen for that," said an ecstatic De Villiers.

"We wanted to be the first manufacturer to win the Dakar Rally with diesel power, and we have achieved that, and with a one-two victory at that, " added Volkswagen motorsport director Kris Nissen.

This is the first Dakar Rally to be held outside Africa, the rally venue since 1979.

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