PARIS, Jan 7 - Frenchman Bruno Saby in a Mitsubishi won a split fourth stage of the Dakar-Agades-Dakar rally on Tuesday to snatch the overall lead from team mate Kenjiro Shinozuka of Japan.
But Saby is just 61 seconds ahead of Shinozuka after the gruelling 658-km stage from Nara to Timbuktoo, which was interrupted between two control posts in the middle of the day when crowds of spectators spilled on to the dusty course.
The race was held up for about four hours and the stage converted into two timed sections in the style of world championship rallying with one total time given at the end of the day.
The two Mitsubishi drivers dominated one section each, Shinozuka over the first 169 kms in the morning.
Saby, who began the stage in fourth place overall, took charge over the remaining 308 kms later after the race resumed at control post three.
"That was a beautifil stage, less hot and a lot less tiring than the previous days for men and cars,'' said Saby.
A third Mitsubishi driven by Frenchman Jean-Pierre Fontenay retained third place overall while Jean-Louis Schlesser's buggy dropped from second to fourth.
In the motorcycle section, four times winner Stephane Peterhansel of France, on a Yamaha, won his fourth consecutive stage.
He is now more than one hour ahead of second-placed Spaniard Jordi Arcarons, while three leading contenders in the category fell out of the running.
American Danny Laporte dislocated his shoulder in a fall after 508 kms. Frenchmen Richard Sainct, who had a bad fall during the second stage on Sunday, fell again early on and decided to quit nursing a hand injury.
Compatriot Thierry Magnaldi, who began the stage in second place behind Peterhansel, had mechanical trouble and pulled out after 34 kms.
