De Villiers takes stage win but Sainz leads overall

VOLKSWAGEN driver Giniel de Villiers won the third stage of the Dakar Rally as the German manufacturer continued its dominance of the annual endurance event.

The victory in two hours 46 minutes and 12 seconds moves the South African up to second place in the overall standings, behind team-mate Carlos Sainz who has hit the front after the first day on African soil.

Spaniard Sainz proved his stage two victory on Sunday was no flash in the pan as he brought his VW Touareg home in second place on the 252km special stage from Nador to El Rachidia in Morocco.