Stage 2 Updates: 12:12 Cars: Chicherit starts his comeback Following yesterday’s loss of 55 minutes due to brake problems during the 1st special stage, Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit (Mini) knew that the 2nd stage would be difficult with a fair few competitors to overtake on the tracks. However, for the moment, everything is going well for the world champion free-ride skier, who was 21st to start this morning and who reached CP1 after 93 km of the special with the 5th best provisional time, 2’18 behind the stage leader. In Class notes and rankings for the day Waypoint 1 - 3rd place 0:47 back from leader Waypoint 2 - 5th place 1:35 back Waypoint 3 - 5th 2:18 back Waypoint 4 -5th 3:03 back Waypont 5 - Back up to 3rd made up some time too 2:32 back Waypoint 6 - Slipped back to 5th, now 6:20 behind - yikes Waypoint 7 - 6th and dropping back 7:02 back Waypoint 8 - 7th 9:17 back Waypoint 9 - 7th 10:45 back Finish - 7th in class 11:09 for the day back Overall after two days on the course in 23rd place, sure did pick up a few spots after yestedays issues. 1:08:54 Back overall.
I have not followed this race before, but I am guessing it is a lot like a "Three Day Event" in the horse world. The person in who is 29th on day one is often 1st on day three. I would think many things can happen in fourteen days. Jim
Looks like a great drive for the Mini on Stage 2. Hopefully that type of driving with only little problems will continue.
Interesting show, but too short. Some good shots of the MINI. BMW has three entries, car, MINI and bike. It said something about more coverage at 1:00 AM. Jim
Got home early, which means I was able to catch the show. A little disappointed that there was only a little information on the MINI. Also agreed about shots of the MINI, car looks good though. Hopefully the few issues they ran into can withstand the rest of the rally without more issues. Resetting the DVR for one AM.
Darn, looks like I'm going to have to get one of those new fangled programmable ones now. All the WRC and Dakar stuff come on at strange hours. Jim
The Dakar is certainly a different event from most others - who noticed that yesterday's winner of the motorbikes went down from first to third after receiving a one minute penalty - for speeding! For public safety where the race passes though villages and other populated areas, there are speed limits and Faria's GPS readout showed he broke a speed limit. Mind you, there is a conspiracy theory about it as well - Faria is the 'water carrier' for Despres, but he was faster than his team leader, for which he probably got his hand slapped. The term 'water carrier' comes from the African years of the rally when he would carry spare water and other backup/spares to give to his team leader if needed - last year one 'water carrier' had to give his team leader his good rear wheel and try to finish the stage on the team leader's bent and buckled rim.
Hell the whole water carrier's bike is nothing more than a mobile spare parts source for the team leader. I think it is against the rules to do it, but it does happen. They do need to hold those guys back when off the stages. Locals have been killed by competitors. I believe one was last year.
Stage 3 Updates Waypoint 1 - 14th place 4:52 off leader Waypoint 2 - Popped up to 10th 6:02 back Waypoint 3 - 10th 6:11 back Waypoint 4 - 6:15 back good to see they are not falling back in such chunks now. Waypoint 5 - 10th still 7:00 back - spoke to soon above Waypoint 6 - 8th now ! but 8:15 back Waypoint 7 - 8th 8:53 back Waypoint 8 - 10:00 back Waypoint 9 8th still 10:47 back Waypoint 10 - 10:56 back Waypoint 11 - 12:14 back Waypoint 12 - 7th place 13:12 back Waypoint 13 - no data yet Finish - 9th in class 13:26 for the day back. overall 14th place 1:22:35 behind overall leader. Picked up 9 places overall from Stage 2 to Stage 3.
Video Summary of Stage 1 No MINI Coverage [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vs_KuqHDtw[/ame] Video Summary of Stage 2 There is some MINI Coverage near the end. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrk3cETw8EQ[/ame]
Stage 4 Updates - Running a bit late today...me that is, not the Rally Today's Special Stage was 207 km Waypoint 1 - 5th Place in class 0:10 back Waypoint 2 - 6th 0:34 back Waypoint 3 - no data Waypoint 4 - 5th 2:23 back Waypoint 5 - Slipped to 7th 3:41 back Waypoint 6 - 3:58 back Finish - 7th in class 4:38 back Overall 14th place 1:27:13 off the lead. In other notes: It’s all over for Robby Gordon! Following a broken wheel bearing after 514 km of the link stage leading to the 4th special, American Robby Gordon (Hummer) was not able to reach the day’s timed section, since the race officials had already closed the start point by the time his assistance team reached him. As a result, the Californian has been forced to abandon the rally. Video Highlights of Yesterday Some pretty interesting terrain! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nyzUsTuqkA]YouTube - EN - Minute of the day - Stage 3 (San Miguel de Tucuman - San Salvador de Jujuy) - 2011/01/04[/ame] And some pictures....
I've been wondering about those since the first pictures were posted. The BMWs have something going on down there too, though the shape is different.
But before he abandoned the Rally, he tried to free his stuck Hummer with a Fiat 147! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nOQda5hnA0&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - dakar 2011 - un fiat 147 remolca un hummer[/ame]
Check out the video in the link. Looks like it has to with reducing weight from the body cover around the lower frame. http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/motoringfile-feeds/5560-more-countryman-dakar-photos-plus-press-release.html#post57023
Stage 5 Updates Special Stage 423 km Waypoint 1 - 5th in class 0:11 back Waypoint 2 - 4th place 0:25 back Waypoint 3 - 3rd place 1:15 back Waypoint 4 - 1:42 back Waypoint 5 - yikes, something must have happened 17th place 20:40 back Waypoint 6 - Catch up 14th place - 32:12 back Waypoint 7 - 13th 34:00 back Waypoint 8 - 36:59 back Waypoint 9 - No Data Waypoint 10 - 12th 39:57 back Waypoint 11- 11th 41:37 back Waypoint 12 - 10th 46:29 back Waypoint 13 - 49:46 back Waypoint 14 - 50:20 behind Todays Finish 10th place in class 52:53 back from leader. Overall 11th place 2:16:51 off the lead. Picked up 3 spots in the overall listing. Looks like the MINI got stuck and had to wait for a tow... 12:21 Cars: Chicherit was in need of help After leaving the tracks at the 137 km point of the day’s special and remaining stuck in a rut, Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit (Mini) had to wait to be towed by Portugal’s Ricardo Leal Dos Santos (POR) to start repairs. He has now finished them, but the free-rider has lost several minutes… Stage 5 summary video [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moYmgvOiAx8[/ame]
WOW, that's some pretty spectacular landscape they have there. Can't imagine how the guys riding the bikes can manage to stand up in the saddle for so long. Their legs have got to be shaking when they are done for the day.
Too bad the Mini had such a bad Day 1 otherwise it would be much higher in the standings because it has been holding its own for Days 2-5. Hope it keeps going so well.
Trivial info here but I thought it was funny -- just noticed the Versus channel guide blurb for their Dakar coverage says: