Tangiers, Jan 05: Vatanen clocks up 50th Dakar stage win, Petehansel keeps lead among the cars and Pujol rides in front in the motorcycling section.
Four-times winner Ari Vatanen secured his 50th career Dakar Rally stage success after clocking the fastest time on the 75-km special section on stage four between Tangiers and Er Rachidia on Sunday (January 5) in Morocco. The 51 year-old Finn, driving a Nissan, came home in 40 minutes 40 seconds, 10 seconds clear of overall leader Stephane Peterhansel of France in his Mitsubishi. Consistent Peterhansel leads the rally by 67 seconds from Italy's Miki Biasion, third on Sunday in his Mitsubishi. Another veteran, 55 year-old Frenchman Jean Louis Schlesser took his specially designed Ford buggy to eight place in the stage and is now 10th overall.


Compatriot Luc Alphand clocked the ninth time to go eight in the car rankings while another Schlesser designed car gave Jean Maria Servia 10th spot on the day and the Spaniard holds sevent place overall.

Bureau Report