Reigning champion Stephane Peterhansel of France won the 492km sixth stage of the Dakar Rally between Smara, Morocco, and Zouerat, Mauritania, on Wednesday.
Peterhansel, hampered by a cold for two days, crossed the finishing line in four hours and 29 seconds to beat fellow Mitsubishi driver, and two-time champion, Hiroshi Masuoka of Japan by 5,58 and the Volkswagen of Bruno Saby by 7,26.
Frenchman Luc Alphand, in a Mitsubishi, was fourth, 9,17 off the pace.
Saby went into first place overall, profiting from the accident of overnight leader Colin McRae in a Nissan that put him out of the race.
The Scottish former world rally champion rolled his Nissan over several times, suffering light injuries. He was airlifted by helicopter back to the service area. Swedish co-driver Tina Thorner suffered a back injury.
Alphand is in second spot overall, 40 seconds behind, and Germany’s Jutta Kleinschmidt was third, 3,56 back. Peterhansel, who lost several minutes on Tuesday after getting three punctures, is 7,19 behind Saby.
Italy’s Fabrizio Meoni, riding a KTM, won the motorbike stage.
Meoni clocked 4:37,14 to finish ahead of KTM riders Pal Anders Ullevalseter of Norway by 1,38 and South Africa’s Alfie Cox by 2,58.
Meoni also went up to third spot overall, 1,15 behind France’s Cyril Despres, who took top spot from Spain’s Marc Coma, who is now 34 seconds adrift in second spot.
Meanwhile, a 2CV, driven by Cyril Robas, did not begin Wednesday’s stage but there was no immediate report why. The Citroen 2CV, often maligned for its simple construction, is no longer made but has a cult following the world over.
Following this special, the competitors must complete the 622km stage to Zouerat where Thursday’s special, a 669km run to Tichit, Mauritania, with a 660km timed section, starts. — Sapa-AFP