Dakar: Magnaldi wins, lead changes

Magnaldi, a former stage winner in bikes, took his first victory on four wheels as he led teammate Jean-Louise Schlesser in the Ford-powered Buggy, crossing the finish line in Zouerat nearly three minutes in front.

Schlesser had clocked the fastest times at both control points but lost the lead before the finish line.

The stage, the first part of which was a wide, fast track which benefited the Schlesser buggy, covered a total of 792 km, 444 of those timed.

South African de Villiers was third in today's special, the Volkswagen driver jumping to the top of the overall standings after teammate Carlos Sainz was only ninth today.

The Spanish driver now trails de Villiers by 22 seconds, with Jutta Kleinschmidt completing a trio of Volkswagens at the top of the standings.

Schlesser, a two-time Dakar winner, has moved into fourth position while, thanks to today's win, Magnaldi is now eighth.

Mitsubishi, winners of the last five editions of the event, were again overshadowed by their rivals, with Luc Alphand finishing in fifth in the stage, ahead of defending champion Stephane Peterhansel, winner of yesterday's special.

Alphand is the highest ranked Mitsubishi driver in sixth position while Peterhansel lies in ninth nearly 10 minutes behind de Villiers.

Tomorrow's stage, still on Mauritanian territory, will go from Zouerat to Atar, with a 499 km special, the longest of the rally so far.

Stage 6 standings:

Pos  Driver                             Make            Time
 1.  Thierry Magnaldi (France)          Schlesser-Ford  3:22:54
 2.  Jean-Louis Schlesser (France)      Schlesser-Ford  3:25:49
 3.  Giniel de Villiers (South Africa)  Volkswagen      3:26:40
 4.  Jutta Kleinschmidt (Germany)       Volkswagen      3:28:07
 5.  Luc Alphand (France)               Mitsubishi      3:28:56
 6.  Stephane Peterhansel (France)      Mitsubishi      3:29:13
 7.  Carlos Sainz (Spain)               Volkswagen      3:29:23
 8.  Bruno Saby (France)                Volkswagen      3:30:17
 9.  Guerlain Chicherit (France)        BMW             3:32:47
10.  Mark Miller (United States)        Volkswagen      3:33:59

Overall standings after stage 6:

Pos  Driver                             Make            Time
 1.  Giniel de Villiers (South Africa)  Volkswagen      16:33:58
 2.  Carlos Sainz (Spain)               Volkswagen      16:34:20
 3.  Jutta Kleinschmidt (Germany)       Volkswagen      16:34:32
 4.  Jean-Louis Schlesser (France)      Schlesser-Ford  16:35:00
 5.  Luc Alphand (France)               Mitsubishi      16:36:00
 6.  Bruno Saby (France)                Volkswagen      16:37:55
 7.  Mark Miller (United States)        Volkswagen      16:41:12
 8.  Thierry Magnaldi (France)          Schlesser-Ford  16:42:08
 9.  Stephane Peterhansel (France)      Mitsubishi      16:43:35
10.  Nani Roma (Spain)                  Mitsubishi      16:45:24