06 January 2003 - 15:24 French take control on home soil Dakar 2003 : Stage 02 - 43 km

In Thursday's stage 2 from Narbonne to Castellon, French rider Richard Sainct (KTM – n.3) clocked the best time of the 43km special in Corbieres while his compatriot Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi – n.206) grabbed the win on four wheels. Stage 2 will certainly not be decisive for overall victory but has already cost some precious minutes for some big names on the road to Sharm El Sheikh. Germany's Jutta Kleinschmitt (Volkswagen – n.203) finished over ten minutes behind the day's winner. The special was also the scene of the first crash of the rally: that of 20-year-old Nicolas Misslin (Mitsubishi – n.233).

After a foggy start for the first privateers, conditions and visibility changed completely a few hours later for Frenchman Richard Sainct as the sun started shinning for this first real test of the Dakar. The two time winner of the rally manoeuvred smoothly around the muddy 43km course to set the best time in 41min40s. Just enough to beat his Gauloise team-mate Alfie Cox by 15 seconds on the finish line.

“It's really great to win in front of a French crowd and on this type of terrain. It's always a pleasure riding here."

The 32-year-old wins his ninth special of the rally and his third consecutive victory in Narbonne's area. Race favourite Fabrizio Meoni (KTM n.1) finished in sixth place, over a minute behind the day's winner. No worries for the Toscan: “For me the race really starts in Africa. Every year I'm behind the others in Europe. It doesn't matter.

The performance of the day was for young Frenchman David Casteu who for his first rally grabbed 8th position giving him provisional leadership in the amateur standing. On the other hand Italy's KTM rider Giovanni Sala will be disappointed with his 28th place leaving him over 4 minutes behind.

Other than the times, the number of the day could well be eight. Eight like the victories claimed on the Dakar by today's special winners. Two for Sainct, six for Peterhansel, all on a bike. But the elder of both men has a new goal: to win in a car. And based on his performances so far, he could well be considered as the favourite of this 25th edition.

The pilot left his closest rival on the day, Giniel De Villiers (Nissan n.217), 15 seconds behind. ‘Peter's team mate and last year's race winner Masuoka (Mitsubishi n.200) finished third, 34 seconds adrift.
De Mevius (BMW n.205) managed a very promising 4th place while two former rally Champions, Ari Vatanen (Nissan – n.204) and Miki Biasion (Mitsubishi – n.207) showed their past qualities.

"With all due respect to the car, it's not made for this kind of special. Forty kilometres out of six thousands! No need to talk about it…”, confessed the Finn.

Taking off on the Dakar in a car finalised on the eve of the race is certainly not the easiest thing to cope with. After electrical worries during the Marseille prologue, Jutta Kleinschmitt's nightmare continued as she finished over 10 minutes behind the current overall leader. Her former team-mate, Jean- Louis Schlesser (Schlesser-Ford – n.208) also lost precious minutes, finishing close to three minutes behind.

Thursday's stage was also the scene of the first crash of the Dakar when 20 year-old Nicolas Misslin (Mitsubishi n.233), the youngest pilot of the Dakar, seriously damaged his car as he flipped over and fell in a ditch.

Like father like son, some might say. Well in the truck category it applies perfectly although the father remains in front. A key figure on the Dakar, Netherland's Johannes De Rooy (DAF – n.409), winner back in 1987 is proving that he indeed is a contender for an overall success. Second yesterday, winner today in a time of 51min28s, the 59-year-old will have to battle it out with … his son Gerardus (DAF n.414) second in Roquefort on an extremely tricky course for the trucks. Last year's winner Tchaguine (Kamaz – n.407) took sixth position just behind six time Dakar winner Karel Loprais (Tatra n.408).

Tomorrow's stage takes the competitors to the East coast of Spain with the shortest special of the rally: 8kms on the beaches of Castellon and already some sand. A small dress reheasal for the upcoming African deserts!

raid-live.com, 02/01/03