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/ 13 January 2007
South Africa’s Giniel de Villiers took the Dakar Rally overall lead on Friday after winning the seventh stage between Zouerat and Atar, which was shortened because of a blinding sandstorm. De Villiers, driving a Volkswagen, finished the curtailed, 542km stage almost five minutes ahead of previous race leader Carlos Sainz of Spain.
Two-time defending champion Stephane Peterhansel, driving a Mitsubishi, won the gruelling seventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Zouerat and Atar, Mauritania, on Friday. The Frenchman clocked five hours, 52 minutes and 18 seconds over the 499km timed section. Giniel de Villiers of South Africa, who had been the overnight leader, was fourth on the stage and is now fourth overall.