Tambacounda

Record champion Stephane Peterhansel extended his lead over Mitsubishi teammate and French compatriot Luc Alphand after the 13th stage of the Dakar Rally on Friday. With two stages to go, the 2004 and 2005 winner moved 11 minutes and 15 seconds ahead of Alphand.

Luc Alphand of France maintained the overall lead in the Dakar Rally, winning the 13th stage as the race entered Senegal from Guinea, where one competitor accidently struck and killed a boy who crossed the track. Alphand finished the stage in four hours, 30 minutes, 15 seconds, with Spain’s Carlos Sainz and South Africa’s Giniel de Villiers trailing.

Finland’s four-time champion Ari Vatanen made his mark on this year’s Dakar Rally with success in the 14th stage on Friday. This was Vatanen’s 51st career stage win, a record that is being challenged by Stephane Peterhansel, the favourite to take the 2005 title, who notched up his 48th special on Thursday.