Masuoka closes gap on team-mate in beach dash

Hiroshi Masuoka won yesterday's short special stage in the Dakar Rally to close the gap on the overall leader, Stéphane Peterhansel.

The Japanese Mitsubishi driver took the honours over the five-mile third stage around a beach and air strip in Catsellon, Spain, to relegate Giniel de Villiers' Nissan into third.

Peterhansel clocked the second-fastest time of the day, five seconds slower than Masuoka, which left the Frenchman 29 seconds ahead of his Mitsubishi team-mate overall. The former world rally champion, Miki Biasion, also in a Mitsubishi, made good progress to move into fourth, just over a minute off the lead.

In the bike section, Richard Sainct of France held on to his lead, despite posting the sixth-best time, with a 10-second advantage over South Africa's Alfie Cox, who was five seconds faster in stage three. Sainct's compatriot Cyril Despres was fastest to move within eight seconds of fellow KTM rider Cox.

Despres said: "These three stages were to gain in confidence. I don't know what it'll be like on longer stages."

Britain's Patsy Quick continues to lead the women's section and is 109th overall.

Today is a rest day as the drivers travel by ferry to Tunisia in preparation for the stage from Tunis to Tozeur.