Dakar Rally : News from Leg 8As the first 4 trucks passed CP2 (km 357), Russian Ilgizar Mardeev was the provisional leader of the special stage, 2'35 ahead of the leader in the overall rankings Hans Stacey and 14'20 ahead of another Dutchman Arjan Brouwer.
Because
he ran out of gas close to CP3, which fortunately also is the second refueling point, Frenchman Patrice Carillon arrived on foot at CP. Once he got hold of a few liters of the precious fluid, the biker turned around to get his bike, drive back and refuel before returning to the normal course of his stage race.
As the first 7 cars passed CP3 (km 411), South-African Giniel De Villiers was timed as the virtual leader of the day's special stage, 6'48 ahead of Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel and 10'16 ahead of Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah.
As the first 4 bikes have now reached the end of this 8th special stage, Spaniard Marc Coma seems to be getting his 3rd stage victory in the 2007 edition, 10'02 in front of Frenchman Cyril Despres and 24'00 ahead of Norwegian Pal Anders Ullevalseter.
Due to an engine break-down that happened this morning on the way from Atar to the start of the 8th special stage, French team Christian Lavieille-François Borsotto had no choice but to withdraw and will be going back to France tonight already.
