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S Africa's de Villiers leads in Dakar

South Africa's Giniel de Villiers took the Dakar Rally overall lead on Friday after winning the seventh stage between Zouerat and Atar, a leg which was shortened because of a blinding sandstorm.

De Villiers, driving a Volks-wagen, finished the curtailed 542km stage almost five minutes ahead of previous race leader Carlos Sainz of Spain.

The result puts him one minute and 39 seconds ahead of former world rally champion Sainz, also driving a Volkswagen, in the overall standings. Sainz was third on Friday behind Stephane Peterhansel in a Mitsubishi.

Former winner Hiroshi Masuoka of Japan, driving a Mitsubishi, was fourth on the stage with Qatar's Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah, in a BMW, in fifth.

"This was a very difficult stage due to the lack of visibility," de Villiers said.

"We drove blind without any point of reference. I was happy to hear that the stage was being shortened," he said.

Frenchman Cyril Despres, riding a KTM, took top motorcycle honors ahead of Norwegian Pal Anders Ullevalster and David Casteu of France.

"Of course it was a great day, but my enthusiasm is a bit undermined," Despres said.

"I gained 10 minutes back, but I might have gained 10 more if the special stage had been run in full," he said.

"I don't really think it was an advantage to start later because with the strong wind, all the tracks were completely blurred and therefore very hard to follow," he said.
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