Paris - Jean-Louis Schlesser won Tuesday's second special stage of the Paris-Dakar Rally in his Schlesser Buggy to take the overall lead in the car category and stay on track for a third straight victory in the event.
Frenchman Schlesser clocked a provisional 30 minutes 33 seconds for the 30km special at Chateau Lastours during a 560km stage from Narbonne in south eastern France to Castellon-Costa Azahar in Spain.
Hiroshi Masuoka of Japan was 11 seconds behind Schlesser in his Mitsubishi with Kenjiro Shinozuka, another Japanese Mitsubishi driver, 39 seconds off the pace in third place.
Jose Maria Servia of Spain, who won Monday's short opening special stage in his Schlesser Buggy, was fourth - 54 seconds behind Schlesser.
Frenchman Richard Sainct, last year's winner of the motorcycle category, jumped into the provisional overall lead by winning the second special in 31 minutes 25 seconds on his KTM.
He finished 56 seconds clear of Spaniard Joan Roma, who won Monday's opening stage on a BMW, with Kari Tianen of Finland third on the stage.
The rally began in Paris on Monday and will finish in Dakar on January 21 after a 10 739km trek across Europe and North Africa.
The event, with numerous sand stages and dune crossings, comprises a total of 20 stages in its 23rd edition with just one rest day.
The third motorcycle stage in Spain on Thursday is under threat after rally organisers claimed the Spanish federation had claimed an unreasonable sanctioning fee.
- Reuters