Dakar

[nugundam93]

this just in from dakar.com:

20:07 - auto
Stage win for Peterhansel
Stéphane Peterhansel scored his 51st career stage win on the Dakar at Kiffa. The two-time defending champion won 33 stages in the bike division, his win this afternoon was his 18th in the car division. He is now the owner outright for most stage wins, which he had shared until today with Ari Vatanen. In the overall standings, « Peter » stretched his lead from Luc Alphand to 9’16’’.

[falken]

Aussie rider dies in Dakar Rally
Australian motorcyclist Andy Caldecott has been killed in a crash in the ninth stage of the Dakar Rally.

The 41-year-old KTM rider, who won last Monday's third stage, was in 10th place overall after Saturday's eighth stage.

Fellow KTM rider Marc Coma retains the overall lead in the bike class with a 22-minute advantage over Cyril Despres, who won Monday's stage.

In the car category, defending champion Stephane Peterhansel of Mitsubishi won the stage to extend his lead.

The Frenchman, who is chasing a third consecutive Dakar Rally win, now leads Mitsubishi team-mate Luc Alphand by nine minutes.

But the day's action was overshadowed by the death of Caldecott, who crashed 250km into Monday's 599km stage between Nouakchott and Kiffa in Mauritania.

He becomes the 23rd competitor to die in the Dakar Rally since the event started 28 years ago.

"We learned at 1157GMT of the death of Andy Caldecott who fell after 250km," said race director Etienne Lavigne.

"He probably died instantly. We learned of the accident at 1131 and the helicopter landed at 1155. His death was confirmed at 1157. His family have been informed."

Last year two motorcyclists died - Spain's Juan Manuel Perez and Italy's Fabrizio Meoni.

Caldecott, who was married with one child, won the Australia Safari four times from 2000 and 2003 and was competing in his third Dakar.

He had retired from riding last year, having failed to raise sufficient funds but was given a surprise Dakar Rally chance by KTM just before Christmas, as replacement for Jordi Duran.

Later in the stage, Spaniard Isidre Esteve Pujol withdrew from the event after falling twice during the stage.

"Pujol is injured but he's not in danger," organisers said.

According to Pujol's team manager Eric Bernard, the Spaniard - who was second in the overall standings before the day's racing started - was evacuated by helicopter to Nouakchott.

From BBC Sports.

[Steeljack]

this just in from dakar.com:

20:07 - auto
Stage win for Peterhansel
Stéphane Peterhansel scored his 51st career stage win on the Dakar at Kiffa. The two-time defending champion won 33 stages in the bike division, his win this afternoon was his 18th in the car division. He is now the owner outright for most stage wins, which he had shared until today with Ari Vatanen. In the overall standings, « Peter » stretched his lead from Luc Alphand to 9’16’’.

oh no..not Mitsubishi again

[nugundam93]

bakit naman? they're just showing how good their overall package is...and luck as well.

[nugundam93]

16:38 - auto
Alphand driving again
After hitting a tree and stopping to repair a front wheel, Luc Alphand (MIT) is now back on the track and driving.
16:37 - auto
Sainz wins special
Spaniard Carlos Sainz has just clocked the fastest time of the day’s special. The Volkswagen driver clinches his fourth success so far, beating Nani Roma (MIT) by 4’08. Third is Peterhansel (MIT) at 4’58", followed by Miller (VW) at 6’48" and Jutta Kleinschmidt (VW) at 8’06".

[larshell]

Annualy ba ang Dakar rally? Last year ba team Ralliart ba ang panalo?

[pajerokid]

Yes and Yes

[nugundam93]

The film of the stage
African triumph
For its second day in Mali, the Euromilhoes Dakar 2006 saw Alain Duclos clinch his first ever stage victory and what better place than Bamako to do it for the Mali native. Overall leader Marc Coma increased his lead and can now enjoy an advantage of over 30’ on Cyril Despres. In the car division Giniel De Villiers (VW – n° 305) While Stéphane Peterhansel (MIT – n°300) lost part of his margin from Luc Alphand (MIT- n°302). In the truck division, the third stage win for Hans Stacey moves the Dutchman into the position of closest pursuer of Chagin, who still has a commanding lead.

Before the start of the rally, Franco-Mali rider Alain Duclos (KTM n°14) certainly noted down the date of the 11th of January: the day of Dakar stage 11 heading from Kayes to Bamako his place of birth… That was certainly the one that Duclos wanted to capture more than any other. For his 5th appearance on the rally, the KTM biker has indeed become one of the fastest and most talented of the privateers. Already 4th of the stage going to Bamako in 2001 and 2nd of the one heading from Tambacounda to Dakar last year, he made the best of his knowledge of a course he knows perfectly. The day’s dirt tracks are indeed where the man from Bamako discovered biking.

The African biker discovered the Dakar thanks to French veteran Raymond Loiseaux back in 1982. At the time Duclos lived in Ivory Coast and his family welcomed Loiseaux as it was often a habit back in the early days of the rally. The biker stayed in contact with little Alain and when back in France sent him his bib number 102. 18 years later, Duclos showed up for his first Dakar with the precious bib he returned to Loiseaux.

Today was another chapter of Duclos love affair with the Dakar. He indeed captured his first ever special beating overall leader Marc Coma (KTM n°2) by 1’27”. Third on the day was another privateer: Jonah Street (KTM n°42) who manages his best performance on a Dakar stage. The American finished 6’39” adrift, just ahead of compatriot Chris Blais (KTM n°9), at 8’24”.

In the overall standings Marc Coma increases his lead. The Spaniard now has a 34’24” advantage on the French title holder Cyril Despres (KTM n°1) who struggled on this fast special, losing over 13’ and the day’s winner.

The car division was also won by an African. But contrary to Alain Duclos, Giniel De Villiers didn’t just discover the joy of victory. Better, the South African, who posted his third scratch time in four Dakar participations, the last one being at Bamako in 2005. Perhaps just a bit at home, De Villiers seems, in any case, to be very comfortable on the Malian tracks. Starting eighth, far from team mate Carlos Sainz, he moved his way through the field passing in succession Sousa (NIS – n°311), Schlesser (SCH – n°314), Kleinschmidt (with little effort needed because she remained stuck at km 12 after running into a tree), Miller (VW – n°309), Peterhansel et Roma (MIT – n°304). At the end of this festival, De Villiers came up big in the overall standings. Today, his speed allowed him to distance himself from Nani Roma, with whom he is in a battle with for the final place on the winner’s podium. The Spaniard will now have to make up a deficit of 55’32”.

The two lead Mitsubishis continue to control the rally. Stéphane Peterhansel, who finds himself in a rather enviable position four day from the end, isn’t sheltered from an incident that could provoke a hold-up from his team mate. His misadventure took place in 2003 with Massuoka. Alphand surely hopes to benefit from a similar bit of luck. The former skier prepares in any case to jump on such an occasion. Today, a slight error gave Alphand reason to hope. His team leader committed a navigation error at mid-race, costing him some time. The detour lasted just 10 kms for the defending Dakar winner, but a bigger mistake (heavy contact with a stone for example!) would have serious consequences. For the moment, Alphand, 3rd on the special stage, is now 25’09” adrift from Peterhansel. The two drives will continue to watch each other just until Dakar.
After his victory yesterday in Kayes, Hans Stacey (MAN – n°524) posted his third scratch time on the 2006 Dakar, the fourth of his career on the rally. The Dutchman won by 6’41” from Andre De Azevedo (TAT – n° 513), Vladimir Chagin (KAM – n° 508) was third at 11’10’’. The Russian holds on to the lead in the overall standings but he now has Hans Stacey as his closest follower at 3h19’34”.

wohooo! leading pa rin mitsu!

[nugundam93]

20:39 - car
Kleinschmidt pulls out
Jutta Kleinschmidt, who had destroyed the front right wheel of her Vokswagen Race Touareg after hitting a tree, was forced to pull out of the race. At first an assistance truck came to help her but decided to carry on because the problems were too serious. Heading to Bamako, the truck had an accident at km 28 and crashed on its side. It’s now back on its four wheels and on its way to the Mali capital.

sayang

[larshell]

Saang chanel pwedeng mapanood yan?