Driving the Team PIAA Ralliart Pajero/Montero, Shinozuka finished the leg in second place, just 5m 40s behind Schlesser's buggy, despite the fast nature of the sandy tracks which handed the advantage to the rally leader. Kleinschmidt wasn't far behind in her Mitsubishi, despite getting stuck in sand close to the finish of the hot, dusty 417 km competitive section.

Said Shinozuka: "Today's route was very fast. I drove at maximum attack, but I couldn't catch Schlesser. I hope that tomorrow's route is more twisty."

A slightly disappointed Kleinschmidt added: "I got stuck before the finish, so I was passed by Shinozuka whom I had previously caught 200 km after the start. Today's route was more advantageous to Schlesser's buggy because of his higher top speed."

The leading trio, running close together and all capable of victory at the half way point, have now opened up a gap of almost 40 minutes to the rest of the field, headed by Nissan's Thierry de Lavergne back in fourth place.

In the T1 category for standard cars, local driver Bilhilli leads at the half way point in his Nissan, with Frenchman Vandromm in second in a Mitsubishi. Popular French sports star and former downhill world skiing champion Luc Alphand appears to have retired in his Mitsubishi although this has yet to be confirmed. Alphand had been suffering technical problems with his engine right from the start of the event.