Dakar: Magnaldi wins stage 8
Title-holder Stephane Peterhansel of France captured the overall lead in the Dakar Rally on Saturday after a tricky drive through sand dunes in Mauritania
Peterhansel came third in the eighth stage, a 508-km run from Atar to Nouakchott, and takes over from compatriot and Mitsubishi team mate Luc Alphand at the top of the standings.
The stage was won by Frenchman Thierry Magnaldi in a Ford-powered Schlesser buggy ahead of American Mark Miller in a Volkswagen.
The battle between the two Frenchmen promises to be tight before the race ends in Senegal on Janary 15. Alphand, a former skiing World Cup champion, is 32 seconds back in second place.
The day ruined the hopes of twice world rally champion Carlos Sainz of Spain who needed mechanical assistance after damaging his Volkswagen Touareg prototype on a rock.
Sainz, who started the stage fifth overall, is making his Dakar debut and had won three of the first four stages. In the motorcycle section, KTM riders filled the top six places, Frenchman David Casteu winning the stage ahead of American Chris Blais.
Spaniard Marc Coma, who came fifth, retains the overall lead.
Sunday is a rest day. The race resumes on Monday with an 874-km stretch through Mauritania from the capital, Nouakchott, to Kiffa.
Stage 8 results:
1. Thierry Magnaldi (France) Schlesser-Ford 5:00:56 2. Mark Miller (United States) Volkswagen 5:07:48 3. Stephane Peterhansel (France) Mitsubishi 5:07:48 4. Nani Roma (Spain) Mitsubishi 5:08:51 5. Luc Alphand (France) Mitsubishi 5:11:32 6. Giniel de Villiers (South Africa) Volkswagen 5:27:12 7. Bruno Saby (France) Volkswagen 5:32:05 8. Carlos Sousa (Portugal) Nissan 5:35:34 9. Daniel Locatelli (France) Bowler 5:35:35 10. Jean-Louis Schlesser (France) Schlesser-Ford 5:47:20 11. Jutta Kleinschmidt (Germany) Volkswagen 6:11:28 12. Michel Visy (France) Bowler 6:29:24 13. Nicolas Gibon (France) Bowler 6:40:31 14. Ronn Bailey (United States) Buggy 6:43:36 15. Josep-Maria Servia (Spain) Schlesser-Ford 6:50:44 16. Maris Saukans (Latvia) OSC 6:57:15 17. Klever Kolberg (Brazil) Mitsubishi 6:57:28 18. Raphael Sperrer (Australia) Buggy 6:59:27 19. Stephane Henrard (Belgium) Volkswagen 7:00:32 20. Jean-Jacques Ratet (France) Toyota 7:05:21
Overall standings after stage 8:
1. Stephane Peterhansel (France) Mitsubishi 27:43:41 2. Luc Alphand (France) Mitsubishi 27:44:13 3. Giniel de Villiers (South Africa) Volkswagen 28:09:57 4. Nani Roma (Spain) Mitsubishi 28:27:16 5. Jutta Kleinschmidt (Germany) Volkswagen 28:50:07 6. Thierry Magnaldi (France) Schlesser-Ford 29:17:21 7. Jean-Louis Schlesser (France) Schlesser-Ford 29:29:02 8. Mark Miller (United States) Volkswagen 29:55:54 9. Carlos Sousa (Portugal) Nissan 30:53:53 10. Matthias Kahle (Germany) Honda 33:47:03 11. Guerlain Chicherit (France) BMW 34:00:04 12. Alfie Cox (South Africa) BMW 34:15:34 13. Bruno Saby (France) Volkswagen 34:59:58 14. Klever Kolberg (Brazil) Mitsubishi 35:17:09 15. Stephane Henrard (Belgium) Volkswagen 35:23:47 16. Josep-Maria Servia (Spain) Schlesser-Ford 35:29:53 17. Carlos Sainz (Spain) Volkswagen 35:53:24 18. Nicolas Gibon (France) Bowler 36:03:46 19. Philippe Gache (France) Buggy 36:04:01 20. Maris Saukans (Latvia) OSC 36:10:48
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