Gil Takkes Early Lead in Paris to Dakar Rally

Topics:  Dakar Rally

VOA Sports
Voice of America
December 30, 2001

Spanish driver Fernando Gil is the leader early in the Paris to Dakar Rally after navigating a muddy special stage in La Souterraine, France.

Gil in a Seat Cordoba finished the special stage in six minutes, 43 seconds.  Another Spanish driver, Miguel Prieto in a Mitsubishi Pajero was second, 26 seconds back.  Six-time Dakar Rally motorcycle champion Stephane Peterhansel of France finished third in a Nissan pick-up 29 seconds off the leader.

Reigning champion Jutta Kleinschmidt of Germany in a Mitsubishi finished eighth.  The winner of the special took the stage win.

In the motorcycle competition, Frenchman Pierre Quinonero on a KTM won the special in six minutes, 12 seconds and leads the overall standings.

The stage ended in Narbonne, France, and a driver not related to the rally was killed when he struck a support vehicle in the southern French town of Montauban.

Sunday's stage is a 930-kilometer trek from Narbonne to Madrid, Spain. The 9,436 kilometer rally ends in Dakar, Senegal January 13.