MOTOR SPORT/Dakar Rally: France's Stephane Peterhansel, Dakar Rally winner in 2004, stormed clear to win the sixth stage of this year's race yesterday.
Peterhansel, driving a Mitsubishi, covered the 492-km special section over the tricky dunes between Smara in southern Morocco to Zouerat in Mauritania in four hours and 29 minutes.
The Frenchman finished five minutes 58 seconds ahead of Japan's Hiroshi Masuoka, also in a Mitsubishi, with France's Bruno Saby 7:26 off the pace in his Volkswagen.
Saby leapt to the top of the overall standings, 40 seconds ahead of compatriot Luc Alphand and 7:19 clear of fifth-placed Peterhansel who began the stage in 16th overall.
Former world champion Colin McRae, who started the day with a lead of nearly five and a half minutes, crashed 80 km from the end of the special section and is out of the race.
The Scot was taken by helicopter to Zouerat but emerged standing up and organisers said there were no serious worries.
In the motorcycle category, France's Cyril Despres has taken the overall lead after finishing fourth to stage winner Fabrizio Meoni of Italy. KTM riders hold the first seven places.
The rally remains in Mauritania for tomorrow's seventh stage from Zouerat to Tichit which features the longest special stage of the event at 660 km.
