Former World Rally champion Carlos Sainz of Volkswagen held off Mitsubishi's Stephane Peterhansel to win stage six of the Central Europe Rally and take the lead at the top of the overall standings.

Sainz and Peterhansel attacked on the stage, which was the same route as the previous day when Sainz went quickest from Nani Roma.

Spaniard Sainz's time of 02:10:22 was 40 seconds faster than Dakar legend Peterhansel (02:11:02) by the end, which gives him an 18-second lead with only one stage left to race.

Mitsubishi driver Roma had problems on the stage and ended way down in 53rd, which drops him from third to 40th overall.

Robbie Gordon in the Hummer finished the stage in third and is 11th overall while German Dieter Depping (VW) was fourth ahead of Frenchman Luc Alphand (Mitsubishi).

Depping and Alphand are third and fourth respectively after six stages.

In the bikes, overall leader David Casteu on the KTM finished in a modest fifth to maintain his advantage over Chile's Francisco Lopez (KTM) - who was fourth - and France's Cyril Despres (KTM), who won the stage.

In the trucks category Dutchman Hans Stacey (MAN) seems set to take overall victory after another comprehensive stage win.

Sixth Stage Classification

>>Car Racing Category (Combined Classification)

1. SAINZ - PERIN (VOLKSWAGEN) 02:10:22

2. PETERHANSEL - COTTRET (MITSUBISHI) at 00:40

3. GORDON - GRIDER (HUMMER) at 03:02

4. DEPPING - GOTTSCHALK (VOLKSWAGEN) at 03:22

5. ALPHAND - PICARD (MITSUBISHI) at 00:03:28

6. BALDWIN - HEATH (HUMMER) at 00:03:39

>>Motorcycling Category (Combined Classification)

1. DESPRES (KTM) 02:23:16

2. KATRINAK (KTM) at 01:51

3. DUCLOS (KTM) at 02:59

4. LOPEZ (KTM) at 03:49

5. CASTEU (KTM) at 04:00

6. FARIA (HONDA) at 04:52

Overall Classification

>>Car Racing Category

1. SAINZ - PERIN (VOLKSWAGEN) 09:40:37

2. PETERHANSEL - COTTRET (MITSUBISHI) at 00:18

3. DEPPING - GOTTSCHALK (VOLKSWAGEN) at 06:07

4. ALPHAND - PICARD (MITSUBISHI) at 06:14

5. SOUSA - SCHULZ (VOLKSWAGEN) at 29:17

6. SABY - GUEHENNEC (BMW) at 40:16

>>Motorcycling Category

1. CASTEU (KTM) 10:31:37

2. LOPEZ (KTM) at 04:28

3. DESPRES (KTM) at 12:11

4. DUCLOS (KTM) at 14:08

5. PELLICER (YAMAHA) at 17:49

6. VILADOMS (KTM) at 25:55

Eurosport