Mark Miller and Volkswagen head to Africa with top Spots.

After the two European legs of the Dakar Rally Volkswagen will be starting as the leading team in Africa on Monday.

January 7, 2007 - Carlos Sainz/Michel Périn in their Volkswagen Race Touareg celebrated their first stage victory in the 545-kilometre special stage leading from Portimaõ to Malaga, ahead of Nani Roma and Luc Alphand (both Mitsubishi). It was the second stage victory for Volkswagen following the success claimed by Carlos Sousa/Andreas Schulz in a Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 from Team Lagos the day before, and the Race Touareg’s 43rd stage victory since 2004. The Portuguese Carlos Sousa continues to lead the rally, while Sainz improved to second place overall in this demanding special stage. Tight corners along deep abysses and difficult stretches through the mountains marked the second competition day of the 8,000-kilometre desert classic.

The runner-up in last year’s "Dakar”, Giniel de Villiers, and his co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz completed the Volkswagen trio at the top of the leader board after a no-risk drive that saw them finish the stage in sixth place. Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford follow in position seven overall. A major loss of time was suffered by Ari Vatanen: the four-time "Dakar" winner from Finland made a driving mistake while running through water that cost him more than an hour and a half. Despite this mishap, Vatanen finished on his own strength.

Snippets from the Volkswagen bivouac

Rally moves to Africa: After the two special stages in Portugal the Dakar Rally participants are now on their way to Africa. For the passage, the organisers chartered seven ferries carrying the support teams including the 23 supporting vehicles of the Volkswagen factory team that are sent from Algeciras to Tangier. Meanwhile, on Sunday evening, the four Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 vehicles and the team’s three race-trucks are taking the night ferry from Malaga to Nador where the first African stage is scheduled to start on Monday morning.

Journalists in the Touareg: A total of 146 journalists are observing the Dakar Rally from the start in Portugal all the way to the finish in Senegal. In addition to the 56 media representatives travelling on the aircraft of the organiser, ASO, from one bivouac to the other, 36 press cars with altogether 110 reporters have been deployed. Among others, the toughest cross-country rally includes three Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI vehicles – each accommodating three journalists and their luggage providing safe and comfortable transportation across the distance covering a total of 8,000 kilometres.

Standings after stage 2,

1. Carlos Sousa/Andreas Schulz (P/D) Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 1h01m19s (9th) 2h21m57s
2. Carlos Sainz/Michel Périn (E/F) Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 59m26s (1st) + 45s
3. Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (RSA/D) Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 1h01m00s (6th) + 2m12s
4. Nani Roma/Lucas Cruz Senra (E/E) Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution 59m55s (2nd) + 3m29s
5. Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-P. Cottret (F/F) Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution 59m57s (4th) + 3m55s
6. Guerlain Chicherit/Matthieu Baumel (F/F) BMW X3 1h01m16s (8th) + 4m49s

7. Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/RSA) Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 1h03m50s (14th) + 6m27s

8. Hiroshi Masuoka/Pascal Maimon (J/F) Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution 1h00m50s (5th) + 6m47s
9. Nasser Al-Attiyah/Alain Guehennec (QT/F) BMW X3 1h03m52s (15th) + 8m33s
10. Christian Lavieille/François Borsotto (F/F) Nissan Pick-up 1h02m32s (10th) + 9m24s

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