Motorsport: Death mars opening stage of rally

French motorcyclist Pierre Quinonero and Spanish driver Fernando Gil scored wins yesterday in the first competitive stage of the 24th Dakar Rally, but their victories were overshadowed by an accident that killed a driver unconnected to the race.

The driver struck a support vehicle outside the town of Montauban during the second leg from Chateauroux to Narbonne in southern France, race organizers based in Paris said.

Quinonero was the surprise winner of the 6km timed section of the 598km second stage, clocking 6min 12s while Gil, driving a Seat, posted a time of 6min 43s. The next stage is 930km from Narbonne to Madrid.