Racing in the Dakar Rally, you're in it to win it. But does that excuse not stopping to check on a bike rider when you've knocked him off? Giniel De Villiers seems to think so in not one, but two incidents.

Dakar Rally Controversy

Anyone who competes in the Dakar Rally is automatically a hero but to do it on a bike elevates you to a different plane. The race is difficult enough without any outside influence making things more difficult but one rider was on the receiving end of behaviour that appears to ignore the sprit of the event.

During stage 1 of the rally, which is taking place in Saudi Arabia, De Villiers in his Toyota, comes across rider Cesar Zumaran, who has stopped in a narrow gap between rocks. De Villier's Toyota approaches, drives into the bike which Zumaran is sitting on, and knocks it over, with Zumaran nearly going under the wheels of the car. Zumaran picks himself up and moves out of the way and then appears to wave De Villiers through, whereupon he carries on driving and leaves the rider to his own fate.

For his actions, De Villiers received a five-minute penalty but many think the punishment does not fit the crime.

Speaking of the incident via his Instagram account, de Villiers said:

“During stage 1 of the Dakar rally we were involved in an incident with bike rider no 106. Whilst going up a very difficult steep narrow rocky sandy trail section our car got kicked to the left by a rock resulting in us hitting the back of rider 106’s bike, causing him to fall to the ground.

“There was enough space on his right to pass safely but unexpectedly our car was kicked to the left by a rock. We stopped immediately and reversed. The rider got up and indicated to us to pass by waving to us to go past which we then did safely.

‘We should have stopped to double-check if he was ok, but because he waved us by our understanding was that he was ok. I want to apologise for not stopping and also for the unfortunate incident. Rider 106 continued to finish the stage and is still in the race. I wish him a successful and safe race.”

Zumaran managed to remount and finish the stage.

But that's not all. Further reports state that De Villiers ran over the bike of a rider who had fallen, causing significant damage and, again, failing to stop.

"On Monday 3 January at 21:00, the jury spoke to rider #163 who reported a fall behind a dune during the second stage," the official report states.

"It happened around kilometre 180 in the trial, it happened around 11:00 am. He was getting his bike upright when he heard a car approaching. He pulled over. The car went over the top of the dune and drove over the motorbike causing major damage.

"The motorcyclist could not read the number of the car."

If it was De Villiers, then this is unacceptable behaviour: he is not a rookie at the Dakar Rally, first racing in the event in 2003 and winning it in 2009. He as much as anyone knows the risks and, despite competing to win, you can't run over someone and not stop to check if he is all right.

We'll have to wait and see if any further sanctions are imposed against the South African driver.