Jan 2, 2006, 15:49 GMT
Er Rachidia, Morocco - Spaniard Nani Roma, who won the 2004 Paris-Dakar rally on a motorbike, on Monday took over the lead in the renamed Lisbon-Dakar rally.
Although the Mitsubishi driver failed to finish in the top three on the 314-kilometre long third stage - the first on African soil - on Monday, he was fast enough to take over the overall lead from Carlos Sainz.
Roma, who has never before held the lead in a car, has a six second advantage over team mate Hiroshi Masuoka, while Bruno Saby is third 54 seconds behind.
Jean-Louis Schlesser, who has twice before won the rally, won Monday's stage by 19 seconds from Masuoka, while defending champions Stephane Peterhansel was third.
In the bike classification defending champion Cyril Despres took over the overall lead after finishing third on the day. The Frenchman has over a minute advantage from Marc Coma.
Australian Andy Caldecott won the stage in a time of three hours 21 minutes 11 seconds from American Andy Grider and Despres. dpa adh
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