Anyone following the 2009 Dakar rally?

[Motominded]

Event Website
http://www.dakar.com/

Scruttineering

500+ competitiors in cars, Motorbikes and trucks

Vehicles

SPECIFICATIONS: RACING LANCER
OVERALL LENGTH 4475mm
OVERALL WIDTH 1990mm
WHEEL BASE 2900mm
FRONT TRACK 1750mm
REAR TRACK 1750mm
OVERALL WEIGHT 1900kg


ENGINE Turbo-diesel V6, 24 valves with dry-sump lubrication
FUEL SYSTEM Common-rail high pressure injection
DISPLACEMENT 2997cc
MAXIMUM OUTPUT 206kw (280 PS), 650Nm (66.3 kgfm)
FUEL TANK CAPACITY 460L
TRANSMISSION Five -speed ‘Ricardo’-type sequential shift manual gearbox
4WD SYSTEM Permanent mechanical center diff lock
FRONT DIFF ‘Ricardo’ self-locking
REAR DIFF ‘Ricardo’ self-locking
SUSPENSION - FRONT Independent, double wishbones, coil spring
SUSPENSION - REAR Independent, double wishbones, coil spring and anti-roll bar system
DAMPERS Fully-adjustable BOS dampers
STEERING Power-assisted rack & pinion
WHEEL STROKE 250 mm front and rear
BRAKES 'BREMBO' Front and rear Ventilated discs with 6-piston calipers
WHEELS 'OZ' aluminum
TYRES BF Goodrich
OTHER Aeronautic steel multi-tubular frame, honeycomb body floor and carbon fiber body

Engine
Construction Five-cylinder ‘in-line’ TDI diesel engine, two-stage super charging system with turbochargers and intercooler located longitudinally behind the front suspension
Cubic capacity 2.500 cm3
Power approx 206 kW (280 PS)
Torque over 600 Nm
Air intake restrictor 38 mm (FIA/ASO regulation)
Engine management Bosch
Transmission system
Gearbox Longitudinally mounted five-speed sequential race gearbox
Final drive Permanent four-wheel drive, three mechanical differentials with viscous locking
Clutch Hydraulically operated ZF Sachs three-plate ceramic clutch
Suspension
Front & rear axles Double wishbone, two ZF Sachs spring/damper units per wheel
Steering Servo assisted rack and pinion steering
Brake system Front and rear ventilated disc brakes (320 mm diameter), aluminium brake calipers (six piston front, four piston rear)
Wheels Size 7.2 x 16 Inch
Tyres BFGoodrich 235-85/16
Chassis/bodywork
Construction Steel space-frame, two-door carbon-fibre composite bodywork
Dimensions and weight
Length/width/height 4,171/1,996/1,762 mm
Track width 1,750 mm front/rear
Wheelbase 2,820 mm
Minimum weight 1,787.5 kg

​

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Most certainly am following it!

Quad-turbo on that Mitsubishi! Hard to pick a winner this year I think, mainly because we don't know so much about the route.

 

[FoolKiller]

I try to follow it, but here in the states it isn't easy.

 

[Motominded]

I try to follow it, but here in the states it isn't easy.

I live in the USA. I'm downloading the Eurosport content everyday.

 

[KAMKA-Z]

VS. channel is showing half-hour updates daily at 3:30 and again at 6:30pm. I'm not so enthralled by the coverage this year. The announcer is way too generic and American for my tastes. There don't seem to be the awe inspiring beauty shots of previous years. But, after having to cancel last year's event, I'll welcome anything. There's also updates of Robby Gordon's Monster Hummer progress at robbygordon.com.

 

[NISM0_SKYLINE]

Yea my mom dad and I all watch everyday at 6:30. Love the Dakar rally.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

The cars move very quickly for their power, must be all the torque.

 

[FoolKiller]

I live in the USA. I'm downloading the Eurosport content everyday.

By easy I meant flipping on a TV to find it.

VS. channel is showing half-hour updates daily at 3:30 and again at 6:30pm. I'm not so enthralled by the coverage this year. The announcer is way too generic and American for my tastes. There don't seem to be the awe inspiring beauty shots of previous years. But, after having to cancel last year's event, I'll welcome anything. There's also updates of Robby Gordon's Monster Hummer progress at robbygordon.com.

And I don't get VS. Even then, 30 minutes is it?

 

[Stevisiov]

The cars move very quickly for their power, must be all the torque.

As you can probably imagine, when choosing the engines for these beasts they were chosen for their ability to shove sand rather than to shove air, so yes they have far more of a focus on torque than their BHP figures (these are limited to a specific output of 206kw I believe) to similar to your of you japanese gentleman's agreement sportscars, yet have close to 3 times the amount of torque (peak figures of course), in fact they generate about the same amount of peak torque as an Enzo, so its little surprise that they shift.

 

[TVC]

I'm kind of disappointed... It's not really the Dakar anymore. But still a cool race. I just wish it was actually covered in the US more than just 30 minutes on one channel.

 

[Robin]

Im following it and its excellent, I particularly love Robbie Gordon's Hummer... damn that thing looks massive and bloody heavy! He's already rolled it twice!

I feel for the bike guys though, They have it the worst.. no aircon, bone crushing seating, the danger of being flattened by a truck, dust.. etc etc. Did you see that Frech guy who got an insect bite, his whole face like swelled up..

Robin.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

I'm kind of disappointed... It's not really the Dakar anymore. But still a cool race. I just wish it was actually covered in the US more than just 30 minutes on one channel.

Oh, I don't agree. It's still definitely the Dakar, it's just somewhere else. In fact, I think that the organisers have done a fantastic job of preserving its spirit.

 

[Stevisiov]

Where can I watch the Dakar Gilies? I only have basic freeview, if its eurosport then I won't be able to get it.

 

[daan]

It's on British Eurosport just now. I don't know of any freeview channel showing coverage.

 

[Roo]

Nasser Al-Attiyah has been disqualified for missing part of the route:

Al-Attiyah disqualified from Dakar Rally

By Toby Moody Thursday, January 8th 2009, 21:57 GMT


Nasser Al-Attiyah has been disqualified for missing hidden waypoints on today's stage of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally.

The Qatari was leading after yesterday's stage to Mendoza, but complained of overheating and a possible cracked cylinder head to his BMW engineers last night.

Only 5 kms into the stage that was shortened from 394 to 178 kilometres, Al Attiyah soon found the water temperature rocketing to 130 degrees with the first dunes approaching.

Opting to then take a way around the dunes to get to the first Control Point, he and co-driver Tina Thorner ran the risk of missing out on an secret way points that were in the midst of the dunes they had circumnavigated.

At the pre-event briefing for all competitors in Buenos Aires, David Castera of the Dakar organisers, ASO, stressed the importance of not missing any part of the route, otherwise penalties would be clear; that of exclusion.

This is to try and stop competitors getting massive time penalties, but then continuing in the event and ultimately finishing ahead of others who have ultimately completed the exact route.

This now leaves BMW out of the equation and Volkswagen's massive works effort at the top of the tables with former South African Touring Car Champion Giniel de Villiers at the top of the standings ahead of team mate Carlos Sainz and Baja 1000 specialist Mark Miller.

On the matter of team orders at the start in Buenos Aires, De Villiers said there were none discussed before the event.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72679

In response to the thread title, yes, but only on autosport.com.

 

[TVC]

Oh, I don't agree. It's still definitely the Dakar, it's just somewhere else. In fact, I think that the organisers have done a fantastic job of preserving its spirit.

The name doesn't really make sense because they aren't racing to Dakar, Senegal anymore. You are right though it's still a great race and it is better that they are keeping the racers safe. (although I think one person died already).

I just hope they eventually go back to the original race... I just don't understand why a organization had to ruin a race (Not the race organizers).

 

[Rykon Zero]

Am I strange that I desperately want to enter that race?

 

[GilesGuthrie]

The name doesn't really make sense because they aren't racing to Dakar, Senegal anymore. You are right though it's still a great race and it is better that they are keeping the racers safe. (although I think one person died already).

I just hope they eventually go back to the original race... I just don't understand why a organization had to ruin a race (Not the race organizers).

Well, that's terrorism for you, isn't it? There was a very specific threat to the rally discovered in Mauritania by the French secret service. The French secret service issued a warning of this to the rally organisers and basically said that they would not be able to help if the rally got into difficulty. Given that in the past when this has happened, the French government has borrowed an Ilyushin IL-76 and flown the entire rally a couple of hundred miles south, it made sense to cancel.

Africa has a lot of sorting out to do I think.

Am I strange that I desperately want to enter that race?

No, but you do understand that it would be madness to enter, don't you!

 

[FoolKiller]

The name doesn't really make sense because they aren't racing to Dakar, Senegal anymore.

Um, the American Le Mans series must really seem off to you. Or the Indy Raxcing League that has only a couple of races in Indy. Or Daytona prototypes.

Race series are often named after locations where they got their popular start, not for where they are now.

 

[slims]

I've been following the news on www.raid-live.com/dakar/en/ and watching the stage reviews on the dakar channel on youtube. Sorry to hear about Al Attiyah since he was leading even though with the engine overheating he may have had to retire anyway. I'm waiting to see if the last 2 Mitsubishis can take back any time on the VWs. They've been pretty cautious so far but there's still a long way to go.

Did anyone read this article? http://www.raid-live.com/dakar/en/headlines/news/detail/090106171824.shtml

At the Dakar Rally in Argentina, Frenchman David Casteu is feeling pain after falling heavily from his motorbike during a high-speed portion of today's 459-kilometre trek.

Casteu apparently hit the bike's handles before slamming onto the ground; he managed to reach the Neuquen campsite at stage's end but appeared teary-eyed and has been clutching his abdomen in pain.

Fellow Dakar participants and personnel are strongly suggesting he seek medical attention at the closest checkpoint, but Casteu

refused, preferring to lay down and wait until the pain subsides...
for the time being, as
everyone is pushing him to see a doctor.

Despite the fall and his hurting abdomen, Casteu finished the stage with the seventh-quickest time.

That is insane. Gotta wonder how long he was riding in pain like that. If it was me I probably would've called it quits.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I think there have been several times in the past where riders finished the stage with broken bones.

It's too bad that Al-Attiyah had overheating problems. The battle could have been pretty interesting.

 

[Robin]

Can someone tell me why they moved the Dakar to Argentina? Just curious.

Robin.

 

[Joey D]

Can someone tell me why they moved the Dakar to Argentina? Just curious.

Robin.

From Wiki

The 2008 Dakar Rally was cancelled due to security concerns after al-Qaeda's murder of four French tourists on Christmas eve in December 2007 in Mauritania (a country in which the rally spends eight days), accusations against the rally calling it "neo-colonialist," and accusations against Mauritania calling it a supporter of "crusaders, apostates and infidels". The French-based Amaury Sport Organisation in charge of the 6,000-kilometre (3,700 mi) rally said in a statement that they had been advised by the French government to cancel the race which had been due to begin on January 5, 2008, from Lisbon. They said direct threats had also been made against the event by al-Qaeda related organizations.

Basically they are afraid al-Qaeda will shoot at the competitors.

 

[slims]

If I remember correctly it was cancelled last year cuz of terrorist attacks so the organizers moved it to Argentina this year for safety reasons.

EDIT: Spent a little too much time in the post reply window so someone said it before me

 

[KAMKA-Z]

Am I strange that I desperately want to enter that race?

It is one heavy-duty adventure, isn't it?

I was totally stunned to hear if Al-Attiya's disqualification. Big OOOPS.

I'm not a bike nut but I'm absolutely impressed with Jonah Street. Go Jonah!


I have the Playstation Game "Dakar". I'm thinking I should pull it out and do a few stages a night to keep in the spirit. Last time I played it was during the last Dakar two years ago.

 

[FoolKiller]

Basically they are afraid al-Qaeda will shoot at the competitors.

Yep, so they left the terrorist filled Middle East Africa for the guerrilla filled South America.

Fortunately, they are not in that part of South America.

 

[ND4SPD]

I heard a motorcycle rider was killed, a few days ago. Any evidence of this?

Hmm I've found an article. Cause of death is unknown atm. Very sad. 48th competitor to die in the dakar in it's 30 year history.
http://www.france24.com/en/20090107...liers-street-stage-five-tarnished-pilot-death

 

[Milliethemutt]

I'm watching all the coverage. I usually start a Dakar thread but was away at Christmas this year so didn't get the chance. Glad to see the 2 Brits are out of intensive care.

 

[KAMKA-Z]

I'm not a bike nut but I'm absolutely impressed with Jonah Street. Go Jonah!


I have the Playstation Game "Dakar". I'm thinking I should pull it out and do a few stages a night to keep in the spirit. Last time I played it was during the last Dakar two years ago.

Quoting myself now. Jonah messed up his hands pretty badly from several falls in one day. He withdrew. You're still my hero, kid. I hope he can get his job back that he left two weeks before Dakar.

I started to run "Paris to Dakar" on the ps2. I was in around 230th place after 2 days / 8 sections and failed in the liason stage. I'm out. Maybe I'll get motivated to try again.

 

[Roo]

Sainz is out.

Sainz crashes out of Dakar rally

By Pablo Elizalde Thursday, January 15th 2009, 13:35 GMT

Dakar leader Carlos Sainz has crashed out of the rally during the 12th stage of the event.

The Spaniard, who was leading comfortably with just three stages left, careered into a ravine after 79 km of the day's special stage, damaging his Volkswagen beyond repair.

His co-driver Michel Perin is reported to have injured his shoulder, but both men arrived by helicopter at the bivouac in Fiambala.

Sainz' exit leaves teammate Mark Miller in the lead, pending the end of today's stage.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72796