Peterhansel grabs Dakar lead

BMW driver Stephane Peterhansel took the lead in the Dakar Rally car category after claiming his 52nd special stage win in the competition.

Peterhansel, sixth overall on Monday morning, was in control from the off on the La Rioja to Fiambala stage and finished five minutes 44 seconds ahead of VW's Carlos Sainz.

That leaves him with a lead of four minutes 33 seconds over the second-placed Spaniard when the rally resumes on Tuesday.

Sunday's pole-sitter, Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah, resumes in third after ending the stage almost 10 minutes behind Peterhansel.

Defending champion Giniel De Villiers' hopes of retaining his title appear to be over after engine trouble forced him to stop after 50km and Nani Roma, winner of the first special stage, lost several hours after getting stuck in a hole after skidding from the track.

In the truck category Vladimir Chagin equalled Ari Vatanen's record of 50 stage victories.