Abu Dhabi, 02 April 2019: There are few things that Stphane Peterhansel has not achieved in cross country rallying, although winning an event with his wife for company, now a real possibility in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Powered by Nissan, would be another first.

It is eight years since the Frenchman won the last of his five Desert Challenge cars titles, but he has another in his sights, despite recording only the fourth fastest time on todays 222.80km Al Ain Water stage in a Mini John Cooper Works Rally as another sandstorm pounded the Rub Al Khali.

While Saudi Arabias Yazeed Al- Rajhi left behind the previous days disastrous transmission problems to win the stage in a Toyota Hilux Overdrive, Peterhansel ended it with a 2 mins 26 secs outright lead from Dutchman Bernhard Ten Brinke.

Right up until the eve of the rally there were doubts as to whether Peterhansels wife Andrea would join him in the car because of travel sickness issues, something which never troubled her as a top class rider and driver.

They faced a fresh challenge today, after Ten Brinkes Toyota and the Mini JCW Buggy of overnight leader Cyril Despres joined a trail of casualties to get stuck in soft sand, leaving them out in front with only the dunes ahead.

It was a complicated stage and we saw a few cars ahead struggling and getting stuck, so we played it safe and went not too fast, said the 13-times Dakar Rally winner at the end.

There was still a lot of wind which makes the dunes difficult and leading the cars for the stage was a new experience for my wife as there was no tracks to follow.

With a fragile lead, Peterhansel now has a pack of proven winners at the top level now hounding him.

Just 32 seconds behind Ten Brenke comes the UAEs 2017 winner Khalid Al Qassimi in the Abu Dhabi Racing Peugeot 3008 DKR.

Completing a top six separated by only 16 mins 20 secs are Polands Dubai Baja champion Jakub Przygonski of in a Mini JCW Buggy, last years Czech winner Martin Prokop in a Ford Raptor RS Cross Country and Russias two-times Desert Challenge victor Vladimir Vasilyev in a BMW X3.