Champion Peterhansel captures Dakar lead

Title-holder Stephane Peter-hansel of France captured the overall lead in the Dakar Rally yesterday after a tricky drive through sand dunes in Mauritania. Peterhansel came third in the eighth stage, a 508-km run from Atar to Nouakchott, and takes over...

Title-holder Stephane Peter-hansel of France captured the overall lead in the Dakar Rally yesterday after a tricky drive through sand dunes in Mauritania.

Peterhansel came third in the eighth stage, a 508-km run from Atar to Nouakchott, and takes over from compatriot and Mitsubishi team-mate Luc Alphand at the top of the standings.

The stage was won by Frenchman Thierry Magnaldi in a Ford-powered Schlesser buggy ahead of American Mark Miller in a Volkswagen.

The battle between the two Frenchmen promises to be tight before the race ends in Senegal on January 15. Alphand, a former skiing World Cup champion, is 32 seconds back in second place.

The day ruined the hopes of twice world rally champion Carlos Sainz of Spain who needed mechanical assistance after damaging his Volkswagen Touareg prototype on a rock.

Sainz, who started the stage fifth overall, is making his Dakar debut and had won three of the first four stages.

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