Dakar 2016

CJhaughey

Today marks the start of the 2016 Dakar, no existing thread so I thought I'd better start one for all the fans.
My main interest is the two wheeled side of things but I really enjoy the whole Dakar Cars and Trucks included (Quads as well!)
Robby Gordon has two Gordini in the running this year which may help him finish, his teammate is 18 year old Sheldon Creed.
Last years winner Nasser Al-Attiyah will be strong again in an X-raid but will face Sebastian Loeb in a Peugeot which will add some spice to the competition
Also running in a Mini X-raid will be former bike champion Nani Roma and Harry Hunt
Funnily enough there is no #1 Plate on a bike this year as Cyril Despres has gone to 4 wheels and likewise Marc Coma.
This is a great race to watch, the varied terrain and fantastic scenery always make for good viewing and you will always get crazy stuff like last years stage through the flooded salt lake which saw many machines fail due to brine getting into the electrics.

Anyone else following it this year?

homer90

Not off to a good start

Stage 1 cancelled due to weather and injured spectators.



STAGE 2 - CARS RESULTS
1. S. Loeb
2. S. Peterhansel +2'23"
3. V. Vasilyev +2'38"

Good achievement by Loeb on his first Dakar.

iano.p

Is this only on euro sport or some where eles. I use to love looking at this. I haven't had time this year

CJhaughey

Eurosport at 1030pm not sure if its 1 or 2.

iano.p

Leob is going well. He is some driver. I didn't see the bikes do you know who is leading

CJhaughey

Barreda Bort is leading as of today.

Bikes
Bort HRC 1st
Svitko KTM 2nd
Benavides HRC 3rd.

Cars

Loeb Pug 1st
De Villiers Toyota 2nd
Peterhansel Pug 3rd

Quads
Casale Yam 1st
Baragawanath Yam 2nd
Medeiros Yam 3rd

Trucks

Stacey MAN 1st
Versluis MAN 2nd
Villagra Iveco 3rd

Old Perry

Really not going well for this years dakar. Bad accident yesterday (from what i understand). Driver hit a bump ( similar to a speed bump) on a straight dirt track which lifted the back wheels and sent her into the crowd.

Edit: twas the 4th from wat i can tell.

ianobrien

In the cars, Loeb's lead of 8 minutes plus is gone. He got two punctures and a throttle problem limiting to 80kph. He's now in second, 27 seconds or so behind Peterhansel. Sainz third. Peugeot 1-2-3. Bini in fourth, 15 minutes down. Not bad for a 2WD diesel......

No interest in the bikes or quads, but them trucks are crazy for both the speed and ability to take the rough at the same time.

afatbollix

Loab back in the lead!

afatbollix

I think thats Loab who has had a bit of a off!

CJhaughey

Dune stages today, maybe he isn't used to the big dunes?

CJhaughey

Race neutralised from CP2 apparently, lots of people lost in the dunes, too many to chopper out and its HOT!

ianobrien

Loeb is two hours or so back now. Lost an hour Monday with a "slight" accident (see afatbollix's post) on Monday. Then yesterday got stuck in the sand, another hour gone. Peterhansel lost loads of time also. Sainz now leads the cars.