Organisers posted a note of condolence on the competition Web site (www.dakar.com) saying 42-year-old Eric Aubijoux from Charente had died of a heart attack after completing the penultimate 14th stage.

Aubijoux, a motocross fanatic who was competing in his sixth Dakar Rally, had been in 18th place overall.

The race has now claimed 50 lives in its 29-year existence, 25 of them competitors.

South African rider Elmer Symons, taking part in his first Dakar as a competitor, died on January 9 after crashing on the fourth day in Morocco. He too had been in 18th place overall at the time.

Last year, 41-year-old Australian motorcyclist Andy Caldecott died while two children were killed after being hit by support vehicles.

Barring any last-minute surprises in Sunday's short run around the Lac Rose, Mitsubishi's Peterhansel will add a third title in the cars category to the six he has won on two wheels.

It should also be a Dakar double for France, with Cyril Despres 36 minutes clear of the rest in the motorcycle class after being gifted the lead when Spaniard Marc Coma lost his way and crashed on Friday.

Mindful of Coma's shock exit, neither Frenchman took any risks on Saturday's penultimate 225 km stage from Tambacounda to Dakar.

Peterhansel was only the 11th fastest, four minutes slower than closest rival, compatriot, team mate and defending champion Luc Alphand.

Dakar veteran Jean-Louis Schlesser completed a 1-2-3 for French drivers in the overall standings.

Saturday's stage was won by Spaniard Carlos Sainz in a Volkswagen, the former world rally champion's third stage win in a row and fifth since the 187 cars, 250 bikes and 88 trucks set off from Lisbon two weeks ago.

Despres was fifth among the bike riders, seven minutes behind Brazilian stage winner Jean de Azevedo.

French rider David Casteu, second overall to 2005 winner Despres, had a scare when his KTM suffered a fuel injection problem on the way to the start of the timed part of the stage.

However traffic congestion led to the start being delayed half an hour, giving him time to make repairs and leave without penalty.