Dakar Rally : News from Leg 7As the first bikes have reached the end of today's shortened special stage, Frenchman Cyril Despres has for now won its first stage in the 2007 Dakar ahead of Norwegian Pal Anders Ullevalseter. But let's wait and see, because after attending
to and waiting with Spaniard Jordi Viladoms, who fell today and broke an arm, American Chris Blais might have his metered time rectified.
As the first 5 cars have reached the end of today's shortened special stage, South-African Giniel De Villiers is the provisional winner 2'46 ahead of France's Stéphane Peterhansel and 4'50 ahead of overall ranking leader, Spaniard Carlos Sainz.
After loosing long and precious minutes stuck in a sand dune, Portuguese driver Carlos Sousa, mad at his copilot Andreas Schulz, left without him. The German copilot has now been looking for his diver and car for 45'.
After abandoning – in an outburst of anger – his copilot Andreas Schulz on the track of the special stage, Portuguese driver Carlos Sousa is now waiting for his German copilot on km 299 of the special stage.
The winner of stages 2 and 6 in the quad category Joao Carlos Nazare Santos had a flat tire on km 247 of today's special stage. With no assistance and of the opinion that repairs would be too complicated on the track, the Portuguese racer decided to go on like that but should loose precious time in the process.
The quadruple winner of the Dakar, Finnish driver Ari Vatanen is now seeing his hopes of getting to Lake Rose fade away. His Volkswagen Race Touareg is in flames on km 344 of today's special stage; fortunately, the crew came to no harm.
