Portuguese driver Carlos Sousa has taken a surprise Dakar Rally lead after going quickest on the opening 180-kilometer special stage stretching from Rosario to San Luis. Sousa, driving a Haval H8, finished the stage in 2 hours, 20 minutes and 36 seconds; he was followed by local driver Orlando Terranvo, 11 seconds behind, and Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah, a further 36 seconds away.
SMG Buggy driver Carlos Sainz is down in fifth; he is sandwiched by the X-Raid MINIs of Nani Roma and Stephane Peterhansel. The 2013 champion is sixth overall, more than 4 minutes behind the leader.
The Motorcycle category is currently lead by CRF 450 Rally Honda rider Joan Barreda Bort; the Spaniard is 37 seconds clear of KTM’s Marc Coma and more than one minute and a half away from reigning champion Cyril Despres who moved from KTM to Yamaha this year.
Chilean rider Ignacio Casale leads the Quad class, while last year’s winner Marcos Patronelli is not very far off, with just 21 seconds separating the two men. The trucks remain on the road, the first of which is expected to cross the Stage 1 finish line at 11:15 PM (GMT+2).