China's Liu Kun, of the Rely-Double Star Team, drives his Rely X5 in the ninth stage of the Dakar Rally on Tuesday. Liu finished the stage in 23rd place and is 46th overall. Photo provided to China Daily

Motorcyclist Han Baohua became the fourth Chinese participant to withdraw from the Dakar Rally before the start of the ninth stage on Tuesday. Han had to pull out of the race in the eighth stage after he ran out of fuel with 4.5 kilometers to go before the fourth check point and was unable to climb over a mountain with his bike.

The world's most gruelling rally had previously taken its toll on seventh-time China rally veteran Lu Ningjun, Guo Hongzhi and Ma Junkun.

Lu, of the Rely-Double Star Team, took over the job as the team captain and his teammates, Liu Kun and Jiang Yaohuan, driving China-made Chery Rely X5s, finished the ninth stage, a 235km special, in 23rd and 39th places respectively. Jiang, last year's 29th-place finisher, is now 44th overall while Dakar debutant Liu is 46th.

The best Chinese performer on Tuesday was Zhou Yong, who finished the stage in three hours, 44 minutes and 54 seconds and in 18th place. Zhou advanced one place in the overall standings, from 17th to 16th.

In motorcycling, Su Wenming was 62nd in the stage and 67th overall. Truck driver Li Yang reached home in 21st place and is 19th overall.