Carlos Sainz took advantage of a newly introduced 48-hour chrono stage to regain the lead in the Dakar Rally during Stage 6 on Thursday.
The 48-hour stage calls for drivers and riders to complete a 549-kilometer distance over two days without receiving any assistance from their support teams.
Drivers are required to cover as much ground as possible before 4 p.m. on the opening day of the two-day run, mandating they stope for the night at the nearest available check point, with seven stops spread across the full distance.
The Audi-mounted Sainz made it to Bivouac D and was the provisional stage and overall leader after covering 398 kilometers in five hours and 22 minutes.
Sainz finished four minutes and 31 seconds ahead of teammate Mattias Ekstrom to give Audi a 1-2 finish at the midpoint of the sixth stage.
Another Sainz teammate, Stephane Peterhansel suffered from technical problems and fell down the running order, while Prodrive-mounted Sebastien Loeb moved up to third behind Sainz and Ekstrom.
Lucas Moraes was fourth, with Eryk Goczal fifth in the Taurax Max T3 class entry.