Leading positions in the Paris-Dakar rally after the ninth leg over 221.7
miles from Chinguetti to Tidjikja, Mauritania.   

Cars 

1 P Lartigue Citroen			    38:58:02 
2 B Saby Mitsubishi 			      +21:25 
3 K Shinozuka Mitsubishi 		    +2:36:57 
4 J-P Fontenay Mitsubishi 		    +2:54:29 
5 T Salonen Citroen 			    +7:10:25  

Motorcycles 

1 J Arcarons Cagiva 			    44:58:08 
2 S Peterhansel Yamaha  		      +10:03 
3 T Magnaldi Yamaha 			      +10:29 
4 E Orioli Cagiva			      +28:40 
5 O Gallardo Cagiva 			    +1:29:10    

Brief commentary:

The fastest competitor on this, the ninth stage of the Rally, was Jean-
Pierre Fontenay who finished 3 minutes 34 seconds ahead of Ari Vatanen.
Vatanen is some 40 hours behind now after losing all chance of winning
due to radiator problems on the eighth stage. He, nevertheless, is still
competing with the purpose of winning a few stages of the Rally.

Pierre Lartigue, the favourite now to win, was 5th on this stage, driving
conservatively, followed by Sabi in the Mitsubishi.
                
Peter