Paris-Dakar: Masuoka takes second stage win
Double winner Jean-Louis Schlesser has lost the lead of this year's Paris-Dakar Rally after receiving a one-hour penalty
With his Schlesser buggy suffering from engine problems, the Frenchman pushed his car in the control zone at the second checkpoint - in direct violation of the rules. FIA representatives duly awarded the penalty and Schlesser is now in eighth-place, 56 minutes behind his team mate and leader of the rally Jose Maria Servia.
Sunday's Goulimine to Smara stage, the longest thus far on the rally, was won by Japanese Hiro Masuoka - the Mitsubishi driver's second stage win, though his first on African soil.
Masuoka managed to complete the 420km section without suffering any of the punctures which have so far blighted the 40-year-old's campaign and finished three minutes ahead of Servia. Masuoka now holds third place overall, just behind his Mitsubishi team mate, Frenchman Jean-Pierre Fontenay.
On Monday, the rally heads into Mauritania for the first of the country's eight stages. The Smara to El Ghallaouiya stage is the longest on the rally and provides some high sand dunes and rolling pistes.
Share Or Save This Story
Why quirky Montreal will remain F1's true North American gem
Why the real F1 pecking order won't be seen until Barcelona at the earliest
MotoGP considers reducing riders to one bike from 2027
Top five roles on Motorsport Jobs this week
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments