Sainz extends lead after stage win
Two-time world rally champion Carlos Sainz has increased his lead in the Dakar standings after clinching victory in the fifth stage of the event
The Spanish Volkswagen driver, in only his second Dakar after making his debut last year, finished today's 325-km special just 30 seconds ahead of Dakar veteran Stefan Peterhansel.
Sainz's teammate Giniel de Villiers was third in the stage, and the South African is now over three and a half minutes behind the Spaniard in the overall standings. Today's is the second stage victory of this year's event for Sainz.
Portuguese Carlos Sousa kept third place in the overall classification despite coming home in sixth position in another Volkswagen.
The Mitsubishi team, still without a stage win this year, enjoyed a better day, with reining champion Luc Alphand in fourth position, ahead of former winner Nani Roma, the first Mitsubishi in the standings in fourth.
Alphand is fifth while Peterhansel has climbed up from ninth to seventh after losing time yesterday due to a burnt out clutch.
The winner of yesterday's stage, Jean-Louse Schlesser, has dropped to ninth position after losing over 17 minutes today.
The rally will leave Morocco tomorrow to move into Mauritania, where the competitors will face the longest stage of the event, with a total of 817 kms and a timed special of 394 kms. Stage 5 classification:
Pos Driver Make Time
1. Sainz Volkswagen 3h36.39
2. Peterhansel Mitsubishi + 0.30
3. De Villiers Volkswagen + 1.41
4. Alphand Mitsubishi + 4.17
5. Roma Mitsubishi + 4.32
6. Chicherit Bmw + 5.03
7. Sousa Volkswagen + 6.57
8. Miller Volkswagen + 7.38
9. Rousselot Nissan + 10.10
10. Masuoka Mitsubishi + 12.30
Overall standings after stage 5:
Pos Driver Make Time
1. Sainz Volkswagen 12h53.50
2. De Villiers Volkswagen + 3.36
3. Sousa Volkswagen + 11.17
4. Roma Mitsubishi + 16.16
5. Alphand Mitsubishi + 20.27
6. Chicherit BBMW + 23.31
7. Peterhansel Mitsubishi + 24.31
8. Masuoka Mitsubishi + 25.19
9. Schlesser Schlesser-Ford + 35.50
10. Miller Volkswagen + 49.32
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