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Post by Mixa on Sept 30, 2008 15:45:48 GMT
So witch the manufacturers and drivers will choose? The races will run at the same time. Africa Race will start just before the "American Dakar" and will be a bit shorter but to both will have a huge coverage.
So far its been said that Africa Race can take a better entry list even. Teams aint still happy for the South American route due to its slow speeds and because there just isnt what it needs to be a great raid. Still Mitsubishi and VW will probably be at the Dakar because it has the name and route will suit 4wd cars anyway.
Schlesser has already said he will contest in the Africa Race instead! The decision was due to 2wd cars and media coverage is still good! JLS likes to drive in the desert anyway and was happy to what he saw in transorientale. Its been rumoured that other 2wd cars will follow up and even the bikers and some top cars could come to Africa Race instead because them keeps it as a real Dakar!
So what you think?? Is it good for the sport?
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Post by Mitch on Oct 1, 2008 10:54:51 GMT
I think it isn't good as its dividing up entry lists with many people being torn between the two rallies. I think it should be one rally at a time otherwise you will have teams all over the place! I think to be fair there should be a race on each continent, that would be cool.
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Post by Mixa on Oct 1, 2008 20:21:50 GMT
Yeah could be.. Its quite intresting that manufacturers have to think what to do.. Rally-Raid is coming bigger every year and Africa just isnt so safe place to run but teams wanna do it due to its real nature.. Them keeps it as a Dakar so I hope more people to Africa Race.
I also understand the decision of Schlesser to run Africa Race instead of Dakar. At those roads 2wd buggies could have lost to Mitsubishi´s,VW´s and BMW´s a big time.. There wouldnt have been any kind of change to win.
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Post by Mitch on Oct 2, 2008 11:47:38 GMT
Exactly. Schlesser would have no chance in the 2wd buggy, especially in the tight and narrower stages in South America! Be nice to see if things could be evened up a bit but I think the main priority is to make Africa more safe as its one of the only major events they have, it brings in a lot of money to the countries involved as well, which they need.
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Post by Nick McRae on Oct 5, 2008 20:15:57 GMT
I wasn't aware a race in Africa was going to run, so this is news to me! Seems a bit silly having them at the same time but then I guess budgets only cater for one "Dakar".
Are they both going to be covered on Eurosport?
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 7, 2009 15:11:15 GMT
The first death was announced today.
Frenchman Pascal Terry was found dead 15m from his motorcycle. Water and food were found next to him. The police is still investigating what happened.
Terry ran out of fuel on stage 2 of the event. He received fuel from other competitors to carry on, but he still remained at the position he was stranded.
He was missing from Sunday on, and this morning found dead.
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Post by Nick McRae on Jan 7, 2009 18:10:35 GMT
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Post by Mixa on Jan 7, 2009 20:37:55 GMT
but when you look the images of the stages it wasnt a surprise a few bikers has already almost got under the truck and cars are going by the forests to save time in the pits as people has get caught. a WTCC champion,Muller was forced to retire after his car caught fire when he collided with the truck. I was also in contact to the one of the top drivers of the Dakar and he said that its quite crazy down there. Its like a few years ago in Portugal but even more crazy. YOu have to think everything for not to touch anything(meant forest and other competitors). Also he said that he cant wait the so called desert stages what will probably decide how the competition will end.
Even when Dakar so far has got some good votes from how its been handled,quite a few havent been happy to the route.
Anyway Im still watching it. Rally boys are in control and its not truly a shock!
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 9, 2009 0:56:15 GMT
Seems like Nasser Al Attiyah has been disqualified for skipping a checkpoint in the race. More news will most likely follow tomorrow.
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Post by Hurricane on Jan 9, 2009 15:49:58 GMT
Looks like the Dakar has become a rally administered by the FIA too...
Yesterday's and today's stages have both been shortened, because some parts were too hard for the drivers... Today's stage has even been cancelled for the trucks?! Stage 5 has been made redundant because some drivers couldn't master it...
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Post by Vivski on Jan 9, 2009 16:53:53 GMT
If the road book was wrong, I can see how that would be justified. Otherwise, it's meant to be a challenge...
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Post by Mixa on Jan 9, 2009 21:11:42 GMT
yeah this one seems to be all VW. Just cant wait to see when their cars starts to fall apart if them does. That has happened each year before this year but now it seems to be the turn of the Mitsubishi´s. Roma is the only one in the race no more as even the old factory Pajero of Spinelli has given up. If you look the standings you can see how horrible its been. After VW´s and Roma there starts to be old Mitsubishi´s,Bowler´s and cars like that what are in these days counted quite much to the level of "production cars" . The buggies are way behind and Kahle is leading them. 2wd cars just doesnt stood a change. BTW the guy who I contacted earlier on,is now out of the race too(yeah was one of the top guys). What comes to cancellations FIA doesnt have nothing to do with Dakar as its runned by ASO . IN Dakar stage cancellations due to too tight tracks or weather are quite normal to me. A few years ago trucks werent able to drive was it 3 or 4 stages as the "jungle stages" were called too tight and dangerous for them to drive in race speed. So far Ive seen Dakar as exactly what I was expecting. NOT even close to the level of the old Dakars. its too rocky,tracks are too tight and competitors are facing punctures,heating problems,too tight tracks and dangerous situations all the time. By my mind Dakar has failed a quite a bit! (Schlesser still leading the Africa Race)
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Post by mrdad on Jan 14, 2009 8:34:45 GMT
Finally (after a few years of trying) the veedubs have dominated and look likely to claim a podium clean sweep.
It was interesting to hear Robby Gordon say that the veedubs are much quicker in a straight line - I would have thought that a 7 litre Chev would pack a bit of a punch...
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Post by mbmz3 on Jan 14, 2009 18:38:44 GMT
The veedubs have some factory sponsorship where as Robby is on his own.
A hummer with a corvette engine.
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Post by mrdad on Jan 14, 2009 19:02:22 GMT
not downplaying Robby Gordon's efforts overall - to do what he's done with a (non-factory) 2WD is awesome... but I would have thought it would have been faster in a straight line
turbo-diesel v 7 litre petrol - it seems an unfair contest... just goes to show how far the diesels have come in a short time
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