2007 Dakar Rally

[McReis]

So it apparently was caused by inexperience I read in my newspaper this morning. So should the organization do something about this ? For example let all drivers do a "exam" and show their skills ?

Would you mind making the exams?

[Wouter Melissen]

So it apparently was caused by inexperience I read in my newspaper this morning. So should the organization do something about this ? For example let all drivers do a "exam" and show their skills ?

All riders, drivers and co-drivers take that exam annually; it's called the Rallye Dakar. And as we all know, failing it is very dangerous.

[ZeTurbo]

Well i am ure he knew the risk of taking part in such rally.
that said, it is very sad indeed.

And for today's results:

Bikes:
1. Ruben Faria (Por), Yamaha
2. Helder Rodrigues (Por), Yamaha +0.16
3. Esteve Pujol (Esp), KTM +5.00

Cars:
1.Carlos Sousa (Spa), VW
2. Giniel de Villiers (RSA), VW + 2.31
3. Carlos Sainz (Spa), VW + 2.38

Trucks:
1. Gerard de Rooy (Ned), GINAF
2. Hans Stacy (Ned), MAN +0.20
3. Vladimir Tsjagin (Rus), Kamaz + 0.46

Are you SERIUS? Carlos sousa is PORTUGESE ... not spanish at all.

[ZeTurbo]

After stage 6 of the rally

CARS
1 Carlos SAINZ (ESP)/PERIN (FRA) VOLKSWAGEN 16:00:04
2 DE VILLIERS (AFS)/VON ZITZEWITZ (ALL) VW +00:03:11
3 Carlos SOUSA (POR)/SCHULZ (ALL) VOLKSWAGEN +00:14:03
4 ALPHAND/PICARD (FRA) MITSUBISHI +00:23:55
5 PETERHANSEL/COTTRET (FRA) MITSUBISHI +00:25:03
6 SCHLESSER/DEBRON (FRA) SCHLES-FORD-RAID +00:28:50
7 ROMA/CRUZ SENRA (ESP) MITSUBISHI +00:37:31
8 MILLER (USA)/PITCHFORD (AFS) VW +00:54:53
9 MASUOKA (JAP)/MAIMON (FRA) MITSUBISHI +01:04:23
10 AL ATTIYAH (QAT)/GUEHENNEC (FRA) BMW +01:23:32

MOTOS
1 COMA (ESP) KTM 17:55:30
2 ESTEVE PUJOL (ESP) KTM +00:12:07
3 CASTEU (FRA) KTM +00:44:39
4 BLAIS (USA) KTM +00:47:39
5 DESPRES (FRA) KTM +00:57:18
6 VILADOMS (ESP) KTM +01:06:13
7 VERHOEVEN (HOL) KTM +01:11:45
8 FRETIGNE (FRA) YAMAHA +01:18:15
9 Helder RODRIGUES (POR) YAMAHA +01:24:28
10 LOPEZ (CHI) HONDA +01:27:12

TRUCKS
1 STACEY(HOL)/GOTLIB(BEL)/DER KINDEREN(HOL) MAN 17:45:13
2 DE ROOY(HOL)/COLSOUL(BEL)/SLAATS(HOL) GINAF +00:48:42
3 MARDEEV/BELYAEV/NIKOLAEV (RUS) KAMAZ +01:46:39
4 LOPRAIS/GILAR (CZE) TATRA +02:42:44
5 VAN GINKEL/TISTERMAN/DE ROOY (HOL) GINAF +02:43:46
6 DE AZEVEDO/JUSTO/MARTINEC (BRE) TATRA +02:43:46
7 MACIK/VILDMAN/ZAK (CZE) LIAZ +03:07:48
8 JACQUOT(FRA)/ALCARAZ(FRA)/VAN GENUGTEN(HOL) MAN +03:47:35
9 RESHETNIKOV/MOKEEV/KUPRIYANOV(RUS) KAMAZ +03:54:48
10 BROUWER/KOETSIER/VAN VEENENDAAL(HOL) GINAF +04:30:22

[Zytek_Fan]

Alphand is storming up the leaderboard...

[ZeTurbo]

Alphand is storming up the leaderboard...

indeed, he seems unstopable.
it will take something major to keep him off the podium when the rally reaches dakar. but major events are quite common in the desert.

[Sauc3]

So it apparently was caused by inexperience I read in my newspaper this morning. So should the organization do something about this ? For example let all drivers do a "exam" and show their skills ?

But on the other hand,new drivers might not get a chance. What do you guys think ?

Right, so after becoming sub-champion of the 2002 South Africa Off-Road Bike Race, he never rode his bike again, the 4 years since won't have given him a shred of experience. Neither did he gain experience from participating in the previous 2 Dakars.

If an infant dies at birth, did it not have enough experience at life?

My condolensces to the family and all around him, but in truth he most likely went out as happy as can be, and knowing the consequences after the last year. Nothing that the organisations can do will bring the message across more than actual deaths in the event. 4 since 2005, as was noted in the article. If someone claims they were un-aware of the dangers of the event, then they deserve to die because of lack of knowledge they displayed.

How do you prove a driver or rider worthy with an exam? Thousands of people die in every country each year from crashes. They all (99% at least) passed their respective exams, yet they still made mistakes and suffered because of it. From what the article mentions, it looks like he had plenty of experience.

[Ferrer]

indeed, he seems unstopable.
it will take something major to keep him off the podium when the rally reaches dakar. but major events are quite common in the desert.

He is nearly 24 minutes adrift. And Volkswagen has three cars ahead. Now I know that many things can happen during such a long and tough race, but I think this year we won't see a Mitsubishi winning.

What shame that both Pandas have retired...

[McReis]

He is nearly 24 minutes adrift. And Volkswagen has three cars ahead. Now I know that many things can happen during such a long and tough race, but I think this year we won't see a Mitsubishi winning.

I hope you're right. And if Sousa can't do it, I hope Sainz win!

What shame that both Pandas have retired...

Indeed. It was a brave project anyway.
(I've seen a new 4x4 for the first time last week. I love it!)

[JRodrigues]

I hope you're right. And if Sousa can't do it, I hope Sainz win!

That's very hard now.. He's lost a lot of time on this stage..

[McReis]

That's very hard now.. He's lost a lot of time on this stage..

Yes. End of the rally for him. There are some strange theories about the reason, but he lost his co-driver in the middle of the desert. The official new were pointing to a supposed anger fo Sousa, abandoning his navigator on purpose. That would have been like a murder atempt, and I don't believe it's true.
Other explanation that comes from other sources say that they were trying to unstuck the car from some dunes and that Sousa decided to stop 1km ahead where the sand was harder and wait for the co-driver there.
Apparently the co-driver got lost. He had no idea where Sousa was and ended being picked-up by another car. They are now at the end of the stage and may procceed, but the real competition is over for them. What a pitty. It was being a sensational race for him.

[PTRACER]

Giniel de Villiers has taken the lead.

[jorismo]

BREAKING NEWS:

Giniel de Villiers' chances for winning Dakar 2007 just became very small. After 129km in the 9th stage, Villiers' turbo malfunctioned and caught on fire. He is still waiting for his assistance team.

Carlos Sainz is now the new leader in the stage.

EDIT- Sainz also broke down 10 minutes ago. His team mate, US Mark Miller who was running second in the stage, also stopped to help Sainz out.

[555SUBARUWRT]

I hope Carlos Sainz recovers from his problem to get a good result, I know its early yet, but so far he`s done quite well,

[ZeTurbo]

UPDATE

CARS

1 S. Peterhansel 37:35:19
2 L. Alphand 37:45:15 + 00:09:56.00
3 J. Schlesser 39:06:09 + 01:30:50.00
4 N. Al Attiyah 39:35:32 + 02:00:13.00
5 H. Masuoka 39:47:23 + 02:12:04.00
6 M. Miller 39:49:26 + 02:14:07.00
7 C. Sousa 42:56:06 + 05:20:47.00
8 R. GORDON 44:28:13 + 06:52:54.00
9 S. HENRARD 45:15:40 + 07:40:21.00
10 C. Sainz 45:21:18 + 07:45:5

BIKES

1 M. Coma 40:55:10
2 C. Despres 41:49:53 + 00:54:43.00
3 D. Casteu 42:10:22 + 01:15:12.00
4 C. Blais 42:35:47 + 01:40:37.00
5 P. Ullevalseter 43:07:30 + 02:12:20.00
6 H. Rodrigues 43:47:26 + 02:52:16.00
7 I. Esteve Pujol 43:47:34 + 02:52:24.00
8 J. VINTERS 44:27:52 + 03:32:42.00
9 M. Marchini 44:34:55 + 03:39:45.00
10 T. Bethys 44:58:36 + 04:03:26.001

TRUCKS

1 H. STACEY 43:38:51
2 I. MARDEEV 46:28:55 + 02:50:04.00
3 W. VAN GINKEL 47:57:39 + 04:18:48.00
4 A. DE AZEVEDO 48:19:13 + 04:40:22.00
5 A. LOPRAIS 48:25:30 + 04:46:39.00
6 P. JACQUOT 49:30:42 + 05:51:51.00
7 S. RESHETNIKOV 50:49:17 + 07:10:26.00
8 A. BROUWER 51:15:43 + 07:36:52.00
9 T. SUGAWARA 53:26:39 + 09:47:48.00
10 Y. SUGAWARA 53:39:56 + 10:01:05.00