Motorsport: Masuoka surges ahead in Dakar

TWO-TIME defending champion Hiroshi Masuoka of Japan surged into the lead in the Dakar Rally after winning the sixth stage, a 351km special from Ouarzazate to Tan-Tan in Morocco.

Masuoka leapt ahead of fellow Mitsubishi driver Stephane Peterhansel of France, who suffered a puncture during the stage.

The Japanese driver clocked 3hr 9min 40sec to come in 2min 57sec ahead of South African Giniel De Villiers in a Nissan, with Scotland’s 1995 world rally champion Colin McRae third at 5min 41sec.