Giniel de Villiers won the third stage of the Dakar Rally on Monday, while Carlos Sainz took the overall lead.
De Villiers, a South African driving a Volkswagen, finished in two hours, 46 minutes and 12 seconds on the 252km timed section of the 648km trek from Nador to Er Rachidia.
Sainz, also driving a Volkswagen, was 25 seconds behind. The Spaniard had won the second stage on Sunday, from Portimao, Portugal, to Malaga, Spain.
Stephane Peterhansel of France, in a Mitsubishi, finished third on Monday, 3:18 behind De Villiers.
Overall, Sainz leads De Villiers by 1:02. Carlos Sousa of Portugal, in a Volkswagen, is 4:26 behind.
This year’s Dakar Rally has a record number of competitors with 525 teams represented, including 250 motorcycles, 187 cars and 88 trucks contesting the 7 915km race through Europe and Africa. The race finishes in Dakar, Senegal, on January 20. — Sapa-AP