Motor Sport Dakar Rally: South African Giniel de Villiers, driving a Volkswagen, took the lead of the Dakar Rally after finishing third in yesterday's sixth stage.
Frenchman Thierry Magnaldi won the day's 444-km timed section between Tan Tan and Zouerat in Mauritania.
Magnaldi was two minutes and 55 seconds faster than compatriot Jean-Louis Schlesser, with De Villiers finishing three minutes and 46 seconds off the pace to leapfrog Spaniard Carlos Sainz at the top of the overall standings.
Volkswagen filled the top three places overall, with Germany's Jutta Kleinschmidt 12 seconds adrift of Sainz, who was seventh in the stage.
Wednesday's stage winner, Stephane Peterhansel, was sixth yesterday to be ninth overall.
The rally remains in Mauritania today with a 521-km drive between Zouerat and Atar.
The overall ranking in the bike class remains unchanged despite a dramatic day's action.
Cyril Despres's event took a turn for the worse when he fell, dislocating a collarbone. The Frenchman was able to complete the stage and retain second place but now faces a hard slog through Africa.
Marc Coma held on to the lead despite finishing fifth in the stage. He is almost four minutes clear of Despres with Isidre Esteve Pujol still third.
Carlo De Gavardo won the stage from Giovanni Sala to move into fourth overall.
Erskine cars look set to dominate opener
The sporting trials specialists will endeavour to conquer tough terrain in tomorrow's Motor Enthusiasts' event, which marks the start of the 2006 Motorsport Ireland year, writes Brian Foley.
Erskine cars filled the first six places in the last event of 2005, with Jonathan Fildes, Tony Farrell, Craig McWilliam, Gordon Erskine, Alan Kilkenny and Ken Fildes.
Kilkenny beat Fildes in an early-December "mud plug" event, in which Siobhán McCann dented the Erskine armour with a brilliant third overall at the wheel of her VW-powered JMC.
Venue for the MEC Freeman Cup Trial is Crosschapel, near Blessington, Co Wicklow, where the Erskine cars, designed and built by twins Gordon and Philip Erskine, will most likely continue their usual dominance.
Tomorrow night's 1000 Shakes Rally, run out of Cork, is round five of the Motorsport Ireland National Navigation Trials Championship. To date 74 navigators have scored points in the series,which is led by Paul Higgins on 63 points from Daniel McKenna on 58.
The A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Sentul Circuit, Indonesia, is now to be held on February 10th-12th after the postponement of the event following the death of the Dubai Emir, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on Tuesday.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday - MEC, Freeman Cup Sporting Trial, Crosschapel, near Blessington, Co Wicklow, 11.30 am; Cork MC, 1000 Shakes Rally, starts Whitechurch, Community Church, Cork, 8.30 pm.
