(CNN) -- Nasser Al-Attiyah has called time on the defense of his Dakar Rally title, pulling out of the 2012 race after problems with his car.

The Qatari quit the annual race across South America after his temperamental Hummer broke down on the ninth stage between Antofagasta and Iquique in Chile.

Al-Attiyah has endured a litany of problems with his vehicle since the start of the race on New Year's Day and threw in the towel after 174km of the ninth stage having made three unscheduled stops.

American Bobby Gordon didn't have any such problems as he claimed his first stage win in the 2012 race to further close the gap on overall leader Stephane Peterhansel.

Gordon cuts Peterhansel's lead in stage eight

The Frenchman -- a six-time motorbike and three-time car champion in the Dakar -- finished a minute and 38 seconds behind Gordon, with Spain's Nani Roma third.

With four days remaining in the race Gordon, a NASCAR veteran, trails Peterhansel by nearly six minutes in the overall standings.

He said: "We had a couple of big scary moments. For us, we've got to make time. We're in a different position to him (Peterhansel). He has to conserve his time and I've got to make it.

"We've got four days left, four real days of racing left and the Hummer's strong. I can't believe he could catch us there, because we were going crazy. So he's a madman; if he beats us, he's a madman. Madder than me!"

In the motorbike classification, Cyril Despres won stage nine to return to the top of the overall standings in his seesaw battle with Spain's Mark Como.

What are the answers to this following set of questions:

1. What sport is featured in this article
2. Who has a Daker Rally title?
3. Where is this race held?
4. When?
5. What day of the year?
6. Is Nassar winning?
7. Why not?
8. Why did he do that?
9. Where was he when he quit?
10. What kind of vehicle did he have?
11. Who is winning?
12. Who is closing the gap on him?
13. Where is he from?
14. What car race is he familiar with?
15. How many days are left?
16. Who is competing in the motorbike classification?
17. Who else?
18. Where is Mark from?
19. Who is winning?
20. Where is Peterhansel from?

Numbered answers:
1. racing
2. Nasser Al-Attiyah
3. South America
4. 2012
5. New Year's Day
6. no
7. he pulled out
8. problems with his car
9. in Chile
10. Hummer
11. Peterhansel
12. Bobby Gordon
13. America
14. NASCAR
15. four
16. Cyril Despres
17. Mark Como
18. Spain
19. Cyril Despres
20. unknown