Most liked posts in thread: Eight MINI ALL4 Racing to compete in the 2015 Dakar Rally

Dakar officials claim 650,000 fans lined the Buenos Aires streets, etc, for the podium presentation!

 

Triumph and tragedy for Mini on day one (MaxRally.com)

 

I think MaxRally jumped the gun a bit with that report. Gordon is now listed 4th.

Also, I'd love to see some video of this thing on a stage.

 

They must be gradually applying penalties. De Villiers has moved back to 4th and Gordon back up to 3rd.

 

Something is up with Dakar's official timing and scoring. No idea whether it's a system issue or there are penalties or something else (can't find any info) but positions continue to change well after the leaders all completed today's stage.

Al-Attiya is now shown in 7th, Terranova promoted to 1st, Gordon 2nd and De Villiers 3rd.

Stage 1 results: ARGENTINA BOLIVIA CHILE DAKAR 2015

Here is Roma being towed to finish the stage last, nearly 6.5 hours behind Terranova. That's his title defense well over.

 

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6yx2le9Atg"]Stage 2 - Car/Bike - Stage Summary - (Villa Carlos Paz - San Juan) - YouTube[/ame]

 

Terranova, yesterday's stage winner (inherited after Al-Attiyah's penalty) and MINI driver, was doing very well today until he had a bit of trouble after the final way point. This is the only pic I can find but I think "a bit of trouble" may be an understatement. He's now 22 minutes back.

 

Yesterday's stage (#2) was the longest of the rally and it also had a big impact on the numbers. 34 cars were unable to start Stage 3.

 

Terranova fastest, Al-Attiyah leads (racer.com)

 

There are also MINI crew vehicles.

 

You'd think so but others say he's basically driving in a support role now. I imagine that means he gets to drive his own pace but if someone else on the team needs help and there isn't a support vehicle nearby, he may be asked (told?) to go help. Regardless, he's not going to make any of that time up on the lead if he keeps finishing like he did today, 7th on the stage, 3rd of the MINI drivers, over 6min behind stage winner Terranova. He is passing back markers, though, and is listed 55th overall now among the cars (but still last of the MINIs).

The closer he gets to the front of the overall standings, the harder it gets to make up ground. Right now the Dakar site says to jump the Toyota listed in front of him in 54th he'll have to make up more than 2.5 hours. I'd say he needs help in the form of misfortune of others just to break into the top 30-40.

 

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT_W-tXNE8o"]Stage 3 - Car/Bike - Stage Summary - (San Juan - Chilecito) - YouTube[/ame]

 

Motorcycle competitor found dead on Dakar Rally route (racer.com)

 

Strange results from Stage 4.

I still can't figure out what happened to Terranova. He had big problems before the first waypoint and brought up the rear through the final waypoint but isn't listed as having finished the stage. Al-Attiyah won the stage and leads the rally. Roma had a big comeback today, finishing 2nd on the stage (yet losing another 2min 40sec to Al-Attiyah) and moving up to 49th overall.

Peterhansel may be learning how to get the best from his Peugeot, leading for a while today and finishing the stage 5th. As far as I can tell, Sainz, like Terranova, didn't make it to the finish.

2nd-4th positions overall are held by Toyotas, 5th & 6th are MINIs.