McRae excels in Dakar Rally

Colin McRae claimed an impressive ninth place on today’s second stage of the Dakar Rally as the event headed to Spain.

The Scotsman, driving a Nissan, was one minute 21 seconds slower than stage winner Jose-Maria Servia on the first proper special of the event, with yesterday’s opener used only to determine start position.

McRae, the 1995 World Rally champion, completed the muddy 25-kilometre course around Narbonne in France in 26mins 21secs to begin the trip to Castellon in Spain ahead of the likes of former winner Jean-Louis Schlesser.

Servia, driving a Schlesser buggy, set the pace, with Stephane Peterhansel’s Mitsubishi just three seconds adrift. Gregoire de Mevius was third in his BMW, a further 23secs down.

Kenjiro Shinozuka, who won yesterday’s first stage, suffered a crash and slipped to 37th after losing over five minutes.

Huddersfield’s Mark Round ended the stage 42nd in a Land Rover.

In the bike category, David Fretigne – the only Yamaha rider in the event - was the man to beat and he becomes the first overall leader of the 2004 event.

His fellow Frenchman Cyril Despres was 15 seconds slower on his KTM while Spain’s Joan Roma is a further 42 seconds back in third, also on a KTM. Reigning champion Richard Sainct is handily placed in fourth.

East Sussex-based Patsy Quick, who last year became the first British woman to compete in the event, is 133rd after today’s action.

Michael Extance, from Derbyshire, again acquitted himself well, following up yesterday’s 16th position with a 32nd-place finish, four minutes off the pace of Fretigne.