Motorsport: McRae back on top in Dakar Rally

RABAT - Former world rally champion Colin McRae regained the overall lead in the Dakar Rally on day five today after capturing the 381-km special stage between Agadir and Smara in southern Morocco.

The Scot won in three hours 37 minutes 14 seconds to beat Nissan teammate Giniel De Villiers of South Africa by six minutes 15 seconds.

France's Stephane Peterhansel, rally winner in 2004, suffered a series of punctures and finished over 24 minutes down.

McRae, in his second Dakar Rally, leads the event by five minutes 28 seconds from De Villiers with France's Luc Alphand third at 6min 01sec

Overnight leader Robby Gordon of the US finished ninth in his Volkswagen, 12min 47sec behind McRae, and has slipped to seventh overall.

Tuesday's motorbike section went to Andy Caldecott who became the first Australian to win a Dakar Rally stage. Spain's Marc Coma, narrowly beaten into second, took the overall lead, 43 seconds clear of KTM team mate Caldecott.

Previous leader, Frenchman David Fretigne, missed a turn on his Yamaha and went four kms out of his way. He came home over 10 minutes down and has slipped to seventh overall, at 9:34.

Stage six on Wednesday takes competitors from Smara to Zouerat in Mauritania and features a special stage of 492 km. The rally ends in Dakar on January 16.

- REUTERS