Anyone following the 2009 Dakar rally?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Motominded
  • 43 comments
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Crikey, it seems like no ones wants to finish in the lead. Wonder what the gap is between the top 3 now? Does this mean Robbie Gordon might get the Hummer on the podium.
 
I'm trying to follow it. Just that I have to remember to watch on time for Versus. Hell, I remember when (then) Speedvision shown off Dakar highlights. Maybe I miss the old days of racing TV on Speedvision (now Speed Channel). Dakar rallying is intense, enduring, and rewarding as well. In fact, I'd put winning this event with as much importance as winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans (class or outright). A sensational race.
 
Milliethemutt
Crikey, it seems like no ones wants to finish in the lead. Wonder what the gap is between the top 3 now? Does this mean Robbie Gordon might get the Hummer on the podium.
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Stage 12 results:

Pos Driver Car Time
1. Giniel de Villiers Volkswagen 4h06:43
2. Mark Miller Volkswagen + 16:17
3. Robby Gordon Hummer + 25:27
4. Dieter Depping Volkswagen + 42:02
5. Leonid Novitskiy BMW + 55:25
6. Ivar Erik Tollefsen Nissan +1h15:16
7. Krzysztof Holowczyc Nissan +1h33:59
8. Miroslav Zapletal Mitsubishi +1h37:23
9. Matthias Kahle Honda +2h04:12
10. Guerlain Chicherit BMW +2h05:09

Overall positions:

Pos Driver Car Time
1. Giniel de Villiers Volkswagen 43h46:58
2. Mark Miller Volkswagen + 2:35
3. Robby Gordon Hummer + 1h18:52
4. Ivar Erik Tollefsen Nissan + 5h48:21
5. Krzysztof Holowczyc Nissan + 6h44:42
6. Dieter Depping Volkswagen + 8h33:23
7. Miroslav Zapletal Mitsubishi +10h49:36
8. Leonid Novitskiy BMW +13h19:06
9. Guerlain Chicherit BMW +14h56:00
10. Bruce Garland Isuzu +18h17:40


Gordon has more than a 4 hour advantage over 4th place. He should be able to make the podium. Anything can happen - and has. I'm blown away that Sainz is out. Vs. updates are a day late so we'll se that stage tomorrow in the US.
 
Yeah it suprised me too. I was starting to think his victory was secure but he proves, just like Al Attiyah, that anything can happen even if you have a comfortable lead.
 
Tough break for Carlos Sainz, one of the best rally racers ever and one of the finest in the business.
 
Omnis
Anyway, is Marc Coma really that good of a rider? He's smoking everybody.
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Yes, but there is a bit of luck in it. It's pretty much impossible to do the whole rally without any problems. He had a pretty good lead in 2007, but he crashed out.
 
Well, the gruelling event is finally over. Congrats to Mark Coma for winning in the bike category and Giniel de Villiers for winning the car category.

Mitsubishis reign has finally ended. The Racing Lancer definitely has potential though. Give them some time to do more development and we'll see what next year brings. :sly:

The guys at VW must be pretty happy that the Race Touareg finally got a dakar victory and a 1st place and 2nd place victory at that. I think this is the first time a diesel powered vehicle has won the car category too. 👍
 
So... that Mitsubishi that was raced was... a Lancer? I saw this on worldcarfans.com when I did a Google search. But that's interesting. I thought Mitsubishi was still racing the Pajero Evolution machine.
 
Was able to catch about a half dozen of the last stages on TV once I realized that the Dakar was running. Impressive terrain, gives a pretty good mix just like the original race did.

I wonder how the Africa Race is going?

(A small number of former Dakar participants have started their own race this year following the traditional Paris-Dakar route).


I'm suprised that we haven't heard anything about Jean-Louise Schlesser - Perhaps he did the Africa rather than the Dakar?
 
Opps, forgot about my own thread.

Anyways. I watched every single day of the rally in detail and i can honestly say that this Dakar definetly deserves the race. For one thing, i loved the fact the spectators were thrilled to have the rally enter their land. The bivouvac was packed with people wanting autographs so the dakar has found a second loving home.

Aside from that, the dakar was HARD. Stage 12, 13, and 14 were shortened and were still some of the most viscous i have ever seen. Ginel De Villaers would agree.

It is not final but a 2010 return is likely and none of the competitiors are upset about it as the challenge is there.

For those saying the dakar belongs in Africa, Theirry Sabine himself said that one day the Dakar would move.

And for those making to big a point of the name, it was and is still called the Paris-Dakar by some even though the race has ventured elsewhere before.

2003: Marseille-Sharm el Sheikh
2000: Paris-Dakar-Cairo
1994: Paris-Sirte-Cape Town
 

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