CRI NEWS

De Villiers Posts Stage Win as Dakar Mourns Meoni

2005-1-13 9:38:11 CRIENGLISH.com

South Africa's Giniel De Villiers drives his Nissan to a victory in the twelfth stage of the 27th Dakar Rally between Kifa and Bamako in Mali

The Rally went about its business in a somber mood, 24 hours after the death of two time winner Fabrizio Meoni.

While the motorbike stage was cancelled as a mark of respect to Meoni. The cars set off sporting black scarves tied to their rear view mirrors as a mark of respect to their dead Italian colleague.

And at the end of the 586 kilometre run De Villiers got the better of defending champion Stephane Peterhansel to capture his first ever special stage.

The Nissan driver posted a time of seven hours 20 minutes 58 seconds with Peterhansel finishing over three minutes adrift in second to retain the overall lead.

With four days to go before the finish in Dakar, Peterhansel holds a lead of 23 minute 16 second over teammate and former world ski champion Luc Alphand in the car standings with Germany's Jutta Kleinschmidt one hour 18:47 seconds adrift in third.

Chinese driver Zhou Yong drove a Paladin to cross the finish line 26th with nine hours 25 minutes 50 seconds, followed by Lu Ningjun on the 28th. While another Paladin driver Xu Lang has not finished this stage yet.

Zhou advanced two places to 21st in the overall rankings and Lu leapt to 49th from 60.

Thursday's 13th stage consists of a 370 klometre run between Bamako and Kayes.

(AFP PHOTO)

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