Spain’s former two-time world rally champion Carlos Sainz captured his third stage of the Dakar Rally in Morocco on Tuesday to regain the overall lead.
The 43-year-old Volkswagen driver won the fourth stage in three hours, 52 minutes and 48 seconds to lead overall by 4:51 from Frenchman Bruno Saby and by 5:09 from German Jutta Kleinschmidt.
Sainz won the stage ahead of Frenchmen Thierry Magnaldi by 2:00, and 3:10 in front of Luc Alphand.
The Spaniard — who won the first two stages — was also boosted by the news that Japan’s two-time Dakar winner Hiroshi Masuoka had been forced to retire because of mechanical failure after he rolled his car.
It was the second successive year that the second desert stage had cost the Mitsubishi ace dearly as last year he lost three hours — and effectively any hope of winning the race — because of an accident.
Another of Mitsubishi’s galaxy of stars, Stephane Peterhansel, suffered a blow to his hopes of a third title when he lost more than 20 minutes.
However, their team were none too pleased with the map of the course provided by the organisers.
”The map is a piece of shit,” said teammate Nani Roma, who this year has taken on the car discipline, having been on a motorbike previously. ”It is really badly prepared; it bears no relation to the dangers on the course.
”It is without doubt the worst since I started competing in the Dakar,” added Roma, who is ninth in the overall standings, more than 10 minutes adrift of Sainz.
Mitsubishi’s best-placed driver is former French ski star Alphand, who is fourth, more than six minutes behind.
Their present travails contrast to those of Volkswagen as four of the top five all drive for the German outfit.
Another driver to have a nightmare was American Nascar legend Robby Gordon, who had serious problems with his rear right wheel and lost more than four hours.
In a glorious day for Spain, motorcycle rider Isidre Esteve Pujol, riding a KTM, won the stage.
Pujol clocked 4:13:01 in the 386km timed section, 28 seconds ahead of compatriot Marc Coma and 5:15 in front of Chile’s Carlo de Gavardo.
Coma took over top spot in the overall standings with a 4:51 gap from Pujol and 5:06 ahead of France’s Cyril Despres.
Wednesday’s 819km fifth stage is from Ouarzazate to Tan Tan — a stage that Roma won on a motorbike last year — which has a 350km timed section. — Sapa-AFP