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Dakar: Schlesser wins on African soil

Two-time Dakar rally winner Jean-Louis Schlesser took victory in the third stage of the rally as Mitsubishi's Nani Roma moved into the overall lead of the event

Frenchman Schlesser, driving his Ford-powered buggy, beat Japanese Hiroshi Masuoka, in a Mitsubishi, by 19 seconds over the 314 km special to move into tenth place overall.

Current title holder Stephane Peterhansel was third, 37 seconds behind Schlesser, in another Mitsubishi.

Today's stage was the first on African soil, and it covered 672 km from Nador to Er Rachidia.

Twice world rally champion Carlos Sainz lost the lead of the event after finishing over six minutes behind Schlesser, in what was the Spanish driver's first African stage, having won the first two European stages with his Volkswagen.

Sainz' compatriot Roma, a winner in bikes in 2004, made sure a Spaniard stayed at the top of the standings after finishing today's stage in sixth position. Roma leads by six seconds from Mitsubishi teammate Masouka.

Tuesday's stage is a 639-km drive on Moroccan trails from Er Rachidia to Ouarzazate.

Stage 3 standings:

Pos  Driver                             Make            Time
 1.  Jean-Louis Schlesser (France)      Schlesser-Ford  2:50:58
 2.  Hiroshi Masuoka (Japan)            Mitsubishi      2:51:17
 3.  Stephane Peterhansel (France)      Mitsubishi      2:51:35
 4.  Jutta Kleinschmidt (Germany)       Volkswagen      2:51:54
 5.  Robby Gordon (United States)       Hummer          2:52:28
 6.  Nani Roma (Spain)                  Mitsubishi      2:52:32
 7.  Mark Miller (United States)        Volkswagen      2:53:12
 8.  Bruno Saby (France)                Volkswagen      2:53:18
 9.  Giniel de Villiers (South Africa)  Volkswagen      2:53:26
10.  Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar)          BMW             2:54:34
11.  Luc Alphand (France)               Mitsubishi      2:57:26
12.  Carlos Sainz (Spain)               Volkswagen      2:57:42
13.  Thierry Magnaldi (France)          Schlesser-Ford  2:59:55
14.  Carlos Sousa (Portugal)            Nissan          3:00:31
15.  Alfie Cox (South Africa)           BMW             3:01:32
16.  Josep-Maria Servia (Spain)         Schlesser-Ford  3:02:05
17.  Stephane Henrard (Belgium)         Volkswagen      3:02:41
18.  Henri Pescarolo (France)           Buggy           3:08:13
19.  Matthias Kahle (Germany)           Honda           3:08:22
20.  Guerlain Chicherit (France)        BMW             3:08:45

Overall standings after stage 3:

Pos  Driver                             Make            Time
 1.  Nani Roma (Spain)                  Mitsubishi      5:27:34
 2.  Hiroshi Masuoka (Japan)            Mitsubishi      5:27:40
 3.  Bruno Saby (France)                Volkswagen      5:28:28
 4.  Carlos Sainz (Spain)               Volkswagen      5:28:30
 5.  Jutta Kleinschmidt (Germany)       Volkswagen      5:28:31
 6.  Stephane Peterhansel (France)      Mitsubishi      5:29:10
 7.  Mark Miller (United States)        Volkswagen      5:30:52
 8.  Robby Gordon (United States)       Hummer          5:31:45
 9.  Luc Alphand (France)               Mitsubishi      5:31:59
10.  Jean-Louis Schlesser (France)      Schlesser-Ford  5:32:00
12.  Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar)          BMW             5:32:04
12.  Giniel de Villiers (South Africa)  Volkswagen      5:32:07
13.  Carlos Sousa (Portugal)            Nissan          5:35:51
14.  Thierry Magnaldi (France)          Schlesser-Ford  5:39:54
15.  Guerlain Chicherit (France)        BMW             5:46:20
16.  Josep-Maria Servia (Spain)         Schlesser-Ford  5:47:17
17.  Stephane Henrard (Belgium)         Volkswagen      5:47:39
18.  Alfie Cox (South Africa)           BMW             5:49:00
19.  Marc Blazquez (Spain)              Nissan          5:57:07
20.  Matthias Kahle (Germany)           Honda           5:58:58

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