Dakar: Sainz regains the lead
Former world rally champion Carlos Sainz has moved back into the lead of the Dakar rally after taking his third stage win of the 2006 edition of the event
The Spanish driver, winner of the first two European specials, lost the lead following yesterday's third stage, the first one on African soil.
But Sainz, driving a Volkswagen, has jumped to the top of the standings again after winning today's 386 km special, which was full of navigation, sand stretches and rocky tracks.
The stage, considered a Dakar classic, took place under very good weather conditions as the drivers travelled from Errachidia to Ourarzazate.
Sainz, making his debut in the rally, finished two minutes ahead of Frenchman Thierry Magnaldi in the Schlesser-Ford buggy to move into the lead by over five minutes from teammate Bruno Saby, fifth in today's special.
Frenchman Luc Alphand was third in the first of the Mitsubishis, while Giniel de Villiers and former winner Jutta Kleinschmidt completed a strong day for Volkswagen by finishing fourth and sixth respectively.
The German carmaker now occupies the first three places in the standings.
Current title holder Stefan Peterhansel lost over 17 minutes to Sainz after finishing down in 14th position in today's stage. The Frenchman now lies in 11th place with his Mitsubishi.
Tomorrow's stage from Ourarzazate to Tantan will cover 814 km, with a special of 350 km and two connections of 187 and 282 km.
Stage 4 standings:
Pos Driver Make Time 1. Carlos Sainz (Spain) Volkswagen 3:52:48 2. Thierry Magnaldi (France) Schlesser-Ford 3:54:48 3. Luc Alphand (France) Mitsubishi 3:55:58 4. Giniel de Villiers (South Africa) Volkswagen 3:56:04 5. Bruno Saby (France) Volkswagen 3:57:41 6. Jutta Kleinschmidt (Germany) Volkswagen 3:57:56 7. Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar) BMW 3:58:19 8. Jean-Louis Schlesser (France) Schlesser-Ford 3:58:20 9. Josep-Maria Servia (Spain) Schlesser-Ford 3:59:17 10. Mark Miller (United States) Volkswagen 4:00:29
Overall standings after stage 4:
Pos Driver Make Time 1. Carlos Sainz (Spain) Volkswagen 9:21:18 2. Bruno Saby (France) Volkswagen 9:26:09 3. Jutta Kleinschmidt (Germany) Volkswagen 9:26:27 4. Luc Alphand (France) Mitsubishi 9:27:57 5. Giniel de Villiers (South Africa) Volkswagen 9:28:11 6. Jean-Louis Schlesser (France) Schlesser-Ford 9:30:20 7. Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar) BMW 9:30:23 8. Mark Miller (United States) Volkswagen 9:31:21 9. Nani Roma (Spain) Mitsubishi 9:31:42 10. Thierry Magnaldi (France) Schlesser-Ford 9:34:42
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