Dakar stage shortened by fog, Lu into top 30

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-11 09:24

ANTOFAGASTA, Chile: Monday's ninth stage of the Dakar Rally between Copiapo and La Serena has been shortened by 267.75km because of persistent fog in the area, organizers said on Saturday.

The section will now cover 170.25km, instead of 338km, through the dunes around Copiapo, maintaining the degree of difficultly.

"We had a big first week. It's been a difficult Dakar compared to other years. We wanted that. The Dakar should be difficult," said sporting director David Castera.

Sunday's special stage sees Spaniard Carlos Sainz leading the overall car standings in a Volkswagen and France's KTM rider Cyril Despres leading the motorcycles.

After Friday's seventh stage, veteran Chinese rally driver Lu Ningjun edged into the top 30 in the overall standings.

Lu, driving a China-made Chery Rely X5 and making his sixth to the Dakar Rally, completed the seventh stage in 32nd place in 10 hours and one minute. Overall, Lu was 28th in 43: 46: 49, 17: 25: 26 seconds behind Sainz

Lu's teammate, Jiang Yaohuan, finished the seventh stage in 57th place and was 42nd overall in 50: 52:58.

AFP/China Daily