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Welcome to the Dakar Rally 2012 special newssection. To read an article just click on the specific headline below. All articles are visible for several years and under special subdomain [ COPY & CLICK HERE ] or use the SEARCH. |
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 | SA-Dakar Rally: Tatra-Loprais starts second Dakar half on the 2nd Position.
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It was the first real desert stage of Dakar 2012 to cause major changes in the overall ranking and stretch all time gaps. Ales Loprais takes 2nd overall just before the rest day. The Copiapo-Copiapo stage saw two different parts separated by a 58-kilometer long neutralization tarmac section. The initial part was run on a fast and rocky surface.
Evereyone from the top squad had to beware punctures as they would have caused an immediate fall in the rankings by 12-15 positions. Ales kept a steady pace right behind the flying armada of de Rooy trucks. Unfortunately for them, it was Gerard de Rooy and Miki Biasion to catch a puncture and gain a delay, leaving Hans Stacey keep the pace of the stage. In the second part, things were going on.
Three drivers were leading the stage. It was initially Hans Stacey but later on, also he took a puncture. Later on, while Ales was still keeping his No.2 position pace, it was the Kamaz driver Karginov but neither he could cope. The mighty finish of Gerard de Rooy swept all as he won the stage and reigned in the final dune section that left so many competitors stay overnight in the desert.
Only de Rooy and Loprais really performed well in the dunes and left the Kamaz duo of Karginov and Ardavichus behind. In the overall rankings, de Rooy leads the race by 17m10s ahead of Ales Loprais who is 16 minutes ahead of Stacey. Quite an open situation before the grueling finale in Chile and Peru.
"I think we took a solid performance in the Copiapo stage but at the moment it does not mean anything. The second part of the rally will be much tougher and anything can happen. The differences of the Top 5 drivers are still small, considering we will drive the rest of the race in the desert. We must refrain from mistakes and be very consistent but the teams against us are really strong. Nothing can be predicted," Ales Loprais comments.
So, the second week starts with an Antofagasta stage containing 477 kilometers of specials. Just like last year, Ales Loprais leaves the rest day on the second spot.
2012/01/09 | 13:57 CET | ARTICLE: MR/SY/LOPRAIS
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