Rally: New leader in Dakar

NASSER AL-ATTIYAH leads the Dakar Rally after fighting valiantly on stage two.

Nani Roma, who won stage one by two minutes, suffered a torrid second day as a crash cost him 15 minutes. Roma rolled his car just six kilometres into the run from Cordoba to La Rioja, Argentina, but he and co-driver Michel Perin came out unscathed and rejoined to end the day eighth overall.

Qatari Al-Attiyah took the stage lead in the final third of the test to win it by one minute and eight seconds over X-Raid's Guerlain Chicherit, finishing the day with a 1min 19secs lead in the overall standings from team-mate Carlos Sainz, fourth quickest today, and X-Raid BMW's Stephane Peterhansel.

Roma, meanwhile, said of his crash: "I misinterpreted and, in a curve, the car slipped. I tried to keep it on the trail but I somersaulted twice... so I am very happy to be here in one piece."