TAN-TAN, Morocco -- Carlos Sainz won the fifth stage of the
Dakar Rally on Wednesday to keep the overall lead.
The Spanish driver completed the 201.5-mile stage from
Ouarzazate to Tan-Tan in Morocco in 3 hours, 36 minutes, 39
seconds. Sainz finished 30 seconds ahead of former Dakar winner
Stephane Peterhansel of France, who drove a Mitsubishi. Giniel de
Villiers of South Africa was third for Volkswagen, 1:41 behind
Sainz.
With 10 stages left, Volkswagen holds the top three spots.
Former world rally champion Sainz is 3:36 ahead of second-place de
Villiers and Carlos Sousa of Portugal is third, more than 11
minutes behind Sainz.
On Thursday, competitors head into Mauritania on a 244.3-mile
route from Tan-Tan to Zouerat. The race finishes in Dakar, Senegal,
on Jan. 20.