Magnaldi Takes 6th Stage of Dakar Rally

Topics:  Dakar Rally

VOA Sports
January 5, 2006

French driver Thierry Magnaldi has won the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally, but South Africa's Giniel de Villiers has taken the overall lead in the car category.

Magnaldi, in a Schlesser-Ford, finished the 444-kilometer timed section of the stage from Tan-Tan, Morocco to Zouerat, Mauritania in 3:22:54. Compatriot and teammate Jean-Louis Schlesser was second, with de Villiers third in a Volkswagen Touareg.

The South African's finish put him atop the overall car standings, 22 seconds ahead of Volkswagen teammate and former leader Carlos Sainz of Spain. Jutta Kleinschmidt of Germany in another Volkswagen is third.

In the motorcycle section, Chile's Carlo de Gavardo won aboard a KTM, finishing in 4:00:32. Marc Coma of Spain, also on a KTM, still leads the motorcycle standings, 3:43 ahead of Cyril Despres of France on a KTM.

Friday's seventh stage takes the Rally from Zouerat to Ata in Mauritania with 499 kilometers of timed special stages. The event ends in Dakar, Senegal, January 15.

Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.