Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel set the fastest time in Thursday's 43km stage of the Dakar Rally to set the early pace.

Peterhansel, a six-time winner in the motorcycle section but now using four wheels, clocked 38 minutes and 48 seconds.

The special stage went through Corbieres as the drivers travelled from Narbonne to Castellon in Spain.

South African Giniel de Villers was second, 17 seconds behind Peterhansel, with Hiroshi Masuoka of Japan third 34 seconds off the pace.

Two-time Dakar winner Richard Sainct of France took the motorcycle section in a time of 41:40.

The third stage of the rally is from Castellon to Valencia on Friday.

Wednesday's first stage established the starting order for Thursday.

Cars: 1 Stephane Peterhansel (Fra) Mitsubishi 38min 48sec
2 Giniel de Villiers (SA) Nissan at 17sec
3 Hiroshi Masuoka (Jpn) Mitsubishi 34
4 Gregoire de Mevius (Bel) BMW 44
5 Ari Vatanen (Fin) Nissan 47
6 Miki Biasion (Ita) Mitsubishi 52
7 Carlos Sousa (Por) Mitsubishi 1min 06sec
8 Thierry de Lavergne (Fra) Nissan 1:27
9 Jean-Pierre Fontenay (Fra) Mitsubishi 1:36
10 Kenjiro Shinozuka (Jpn) Nissan 1:42

Motorcycles:
1 Richard Sainct (Fra) KTM 41min 40sec
2 Alfie Cox (SA) KTM at 15sec
3 Cyril Despres (Fra) KTM 37
4 Joan Nani Roma (Spa) KTM 1min 04sec
5 Marc Coma (Spa) KTM 1:06
6. Fabrizio Meoni (Ita) KTM 1:19
7 Marek Dabrowski (Pol) KTM 2:04
8 David Casteu (Fra) Honda 2:12
9. Gilles Algay (Fra) KTM 2:12
10. Josef Machacek (Cze) Yamaha 2:14