Russia's Vladimir Chagin, piloting a Kamaz truck, has won the first stage of the 2011 Dakar Rally's truck class in Argentina, the rally website reported.
Six-time Dakar champion Chagin completed the 222-km (138-mile) distance from Victoria to Cordoba in 2 hours 44 minutes 22 seconds, 4 minutes 41 seconds ahead of Czech Ales Loprais (Tatra) and 5:52 ahead of his teammate Firdaus Kabirov.
The victory was the 57th stage win for Chagin.
The rally, originally called Paris-Dakar, is taking place in South America for the third consecutive year and runs until January 16.
MOSCOW, January 3 (RIA Novosti)
