Portimao, Portugal - (January 6, 2007)
The fog shrouded coast of Portugal tested an international contingency of off road racers in the initial stage of the 2007 Dakar Rally. Beginning along the scenic coast of the Lisbon, Portugal, the capital, the large crowds caused racers to use extreme caution as they raced through thousands of fans lining the course. Battling not just the fog and deep sand and mud, race teams were merely pleased to get through the first stage after months of anticipation for the beginning of this world-class event.
Leading the field was Carlos Sousa driving his VW Toureg 2 featuring a turbo diesel powerplant and four-wheel drive. The 40-year-old Portugal native finished the special stage in 1 hour 20 minutes and 38 seconds to Robby Gordon's time of 1 hour 29 minutes and 22 seconds.
American Mark Miller compared it to what he said was "Mexican Bajas," although we suspect that his reference was to the famed SCORE Desert Series, which promotes three different spectacular off road races in Mexico's remote peninsula, known to adventurers as the Baja Peninsula. Miller is a multi-time winner of the SCORE Tecate Baja 1000.
The American contingent of four-wheel racers participating in this year's Dakar Rally are Mark Miller driving the factory-VW Toureg, NASCAR Team Owner & Driver - Robby Gordon, SCORE Baja 1000 Winner - Tom Geviss and Vanguard Racing's - Las Vegas racer, Ronn Bailey.
Leading the Americans after the first stage is VW-Factory Driver, Mark Miller who commented that he took no chances in Stage 1. Miller completed his first stage finishing in 5th position after a solid run.
Robby Gordon, who leads the Moster Energy sponsored Team Dakar USA, completed the Lisbon to Portimao 464km stage in 13th postion of the car class. While negotiating the race course among thousands of fans, Gordon and his co-driver, Andy Grider, buried the black HUMMER H3 in the deep sand. That costly error dropped Gordon outside of the top ten finishers.
Gordon commented to the media, “The stage was very tight and technical and the sand was soft and deep. We had a good race going but we got stuck trying to avoid hitting some fans. I would say we lost close to five minutes by being bogged down. That was the biggest problem. We had a couple of technical issues with the truck. The clutch was slipping so we had to baby it a bit. Overall we are going to be ok. I’m satisfied with how we are going to stack up against the competition.”
Gordon's second vehicle, the MAN Truck piloted by multi-winning SCORE Baja 1000 Champion, Tom Geviss, fell to 55 minutes behind the leader of the workhorse class of the Dakar Rally field. The MAN Race Truck was taken into possession by Team Dakar USA only days prior to the race and the team poured over the truck in preparation of the 6,000 kilometer race. DIRTnewz is awaiting an update from Robby Gordon Motorsports regarding the issues surrounding the MAN Race Truck #556.
Las Vegas Resident and Vanguard Racing Team Owner, Ronn Bailey, raced his JIMCO race car off the line and completed the first stage 10 minutes behind Robby Gordon crossing the line in 1 hour 39 minutes. Ronn Bailey is supported by BFGoodrich Tires and FOX Racing Shox, both staunch supporters of international off road racing.
DIRTnewz will have a special guest onsite at the 2007 Dakar Rally "Rest Day" in ATAR, Africa where we will be able to provide you an inside look at the all important rest day. Stay tuned!
Breaking news-
Updated breaking news live from the 2007 Dakar Rally.
19:51
479 crews make it through the special stage
At 18.30 GMT, 479 of the 510 crews that started the rally this morning had made it through the special stage and were heading to Portimao, the finishing point of this first stage.
19:11
Stage 1 summary
Pending validation, Dutchman Gerard De Rooy (Ginaf) won the first special scratch time stage and heads the general rankings, 20 seconds in front of countryman Hans Stacey (Man) and 46 seconds ahead of last year’s winner, Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz).
19:02
Shino on his way again
No. 342, SHINOZUKA/DI PERSIO - NISSAN, SUPER PRODUCTION
Japan’s Kenjiro Shinozuka has just got back to grips with the special stage after having solved his mechanical problems.
18:35
Shinozuka stuck on the special stage
No. 342, SHINOZUKA/DI PERSIO - NISSAN, SUPER PRODUCTION
Japan’s Kenjiro Shinozuka, rally winner in 1997, is currently stuck on the special section 5 km from the finish, due to technical problems.
16:53
De Rooy straight from the off
No. 509, DE ROOY/COLSOUL/SLAATS – GINAF
Pending validation by the commissaries, Dutchman Gerard De Rooy recorded the best time of the special stage with 1’40’00", 20 seconds ahead of countryman Hans Stacey and 46 in front of last year’s winner, the Russian Vladimir Chagin.
16:47
Droux waiting for the broom car
No. 174, SIMON DROUX - YAMAHA, SUPER PRODUCTION
After the blow-out of his clutch and recovery tank, Frenchman Simon Droux has stopped in the special section and is waiting for the broom car.
16:35 - moto
Still two bikes on the special stage
At 15.30 GMT (rally time), 242 of the 245 bikes that started the first special stage had left the timed section. Only 2 riders were still left in the special section: No. 216, Michael Kay No. 174, Simon Droux.
15:45 - moto
Rankings correction: Casteu, 4th
No. 8, DAVID CASTEU - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
Following a timing error, David Casteu, classed initially in 3rd position for the scratch times of this first special stage, has had 20 seconds added to his time and is now 4th-placed in the provisional rankings, 7 seconds behind team-mate Isidre Esteve Pujol, the new 3rd place.
15:17 - auto
Sousa is the provisional winner of the first special stage
No. 313, SOUSA/SCHULZ - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
Pending validation by the commissaries, Portugal’s Carlos Sousa has recorded the best scratch time in the first special section of the 2007 edition of the Dakar with a time of 1’20’38", 2’31 ahead of South African Giniel De Villiers in an official Volkswagen, and 2’38 in front of Spaniard Carlos Sainz, also driving an official Volkswagen. Worthy of note: the first five places are all filled by Volkswagens.
15:09 - auto
Gordon best of the Open category
No. 320, GORDON/GRIDER - HUMMER, OPEN
With the 13th best provisional scratch time of 1’29’22, American Robby Gordon recorded the best time for the Open category in this first special stage.
15:01 - auto
A difficult start for Kleinschmidt
No. 310, KLEINSCHMIDT/THORNER - BMW, SUPER PRODUCTION
Due to electric problems, German Jutta Kleinschmidt, winner of the race in 2001, has already lost almost thirty minutes during the first special stage, in spite of her team mate Guerlain Chicherit stopping to help her.
14:27 - moto
Toral on his way again
No. 182, PABLO TORAL - YAMAHA, MARATHON
Already victim to two successive mechanical problems on this special stage, including an engine failure, Spaniard Pablo Toral has finally managed to get going again after having patched up his bike with the help of a competitor.
14:23 - auto
Sousa, a prophet in his own land
No. 313, SOUSA/SCHULZ - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
After the arrival of the first twelve cars, Portugal’s Carlos Sousa is provisionally heading the field in the first special stage, 2 min. 31 sec. in front of the four official Volkswagens, led by South African Giniel de Villiers.
14:01
Six crews did not pass scrutineering
After technical scrutineering, 6 crews were not able to start the rally this morning: No. 147, Denis Giraud – Yamaha No. 259, Eudalo Noe Tubau – Ebro No. 347, Delavergne/Sanchez – Nissan No. 431, Pelichet/Decre – Bowler No. 435, Lassoued/Amine – Mitsubishi No. 480, Azofra/Arregui - Mitsubishi.
13:54 - auto
De Villiers scores best provisional time
No. 301, DE VILLIERS/VON ZITZEWITZ - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
After the arrival of the first 6 cars, South African Giniel De Villiers, 2nd in the general rankings in 2005, has recorded the best time so far in the first special stage, ahead of his team-mates, Spaniard Carlos Sainz and American Mark Miller.
13:48
Provisional results for special stage 1
Pending validation by the commissaries, Portugal’s Ruben Faria (Yamaha) has provisionally won the first special section of the Dakar 2007 with a time of 1 hr. 22 min. 07 sec., 16 seconds ahead of his countryman Helder Rodriguez (Yamaha) and 4 min. 47 sec. in front of Frenchman David Casteu (KTM). In the Marathon category, the best time went to South African Elmer Symons (Yamaha). Finally, for the quads, Spaniard Juan Manuel Gonzalez (KTM) came out on top.
13:10 - moto
Faria, provisional winner of the first special section
No. 37, RUBEN FARIA - YAMAHA, SUPER PRODUCTION
Pending validation by the commissaries, Portugal’s Ruben Faria has recorded the best scratch time for the first special section of the Dakar 2007 with a time of 1 hr. 22 min. 07 sec., 16 seconds ahead of countryman Helder Rodriguez and 4 min. 47 sec. in front of Frenchman David Casteu.
13:00 - moto
More problems for Toral
No. 182, PABLO TORAL - YAMAHA, MARATHON
Having suffered an engine failure after 26 km of the special stage, Spaniard Pablo Toral repaired it and continued the race, only to encounter more mechanical problems several kilometres later.
12:30
Robert back on track
No. 169, CHRISTOPHE ROBERT - HONDA, MARATHON
After his fuel inlet problem on the special stage, Frenchman Christophe Robert has is back on the track.
12:28
Faria hits the ground running
No. 37, RUBEN FARIA - YAMAHA, SUPER PRODUCTION
With a time of 1 hr. 22 min. 07 sec. Portugal’s Ruben Faria, triumphant in the 2nd stage last year, has finished the first special stage more than 5 minutes ahead of his nearest rival Thierry Bethys, and is now provisional leader of the rally.
12:07
Alphand is on his way
No. 300, ALPHAND/PICARD - MITSUBISHI, SUPER PRODUCTION
Title-holder, Luc Alphand has started battle, commencing the first special stage at 10.44 as scheduled.
12:04
Fillatre rolls
No. 257, ANTHONY FILLATRE - YAMAHA, QUAD
Frenchman Anthony Fillatre has rolled his quad during the first special stage. Fortunately, it was not a serious accident, because was able to proceed and finish this first timed section in 1 hr 56 min. 52 sec.
11:48
Petrol trouble for Robert
No. 169, CHRISTOPHE ROBERT - HONDA, MARATHON
Frenchman Christophe Robert’s progress through the special stage has been halted due to a fuel inlet problem. He is trying to repair it.
11:40
Technical problem for Droux
No. 174, SIMON DROUX - YAMAHA, SUPER PRODUCTION
Frenchman Simon Droux has stopped after 17 km of the special stage, following a clutch problem.
11:39
First competitor to finish the first special stage
No. 264, JOAO CARLOS NAZARE SANTOS - YAMAHA, QUAD Checking in at 10.13 GMT at the end of the first special stage, Portugal’s Nazare Santos on his quad is the first competitor to have finished the first timed section of the 2007 edition of the Dakar, having covered the 117 km special stage in 1 hr. 38 min. 15 sec. The fog has now completely lifted from the special stage, which is now bathed in sunlight.
11:00
Technical problem for Toral
No. 182, PABLO TORAL - YAMAHA, MARATHON Spanish rider Pablo Toral has suffered an engine failure after 26 km of the first special section.
Start of the first special stage
Joao Carlos NAZARE SANTOS - YAMAHA, QUAD Portugal’s Nazare Santos on his quad is the first to get to grips with the time trial on this Dakar 2007, at 08.35 GMT as scheduled, in spite of the fog shrouding the route.
Interviews - Cars
Luc Alphand (FRA – Mitsubishi)
We had a flat tire around forty kilometres into the race. On such a small course, that’s very costly. The day was difficult and it’s a bit of a shame to start like that. But it’s just the first day and there is still a long way to go before Dakar.
Mark Miller (USA – VW – 4th)
It’s been a pretty good day for me. After ten kilometres, we knew that the race had started. The stage was great, a good test for the desert. I even started thinking about adjustments to be made. I’m used to crowds on the Mexican Bajas, but I’ve never seen as many people as there was today by the side of the tracks.
Carlos Sainz (ESP – VW – 3rd)
There was loads of sand, on a very narrow track. This meant it was difficult to get past the riders, but everything is fine.
Giniel De Villiers (AFS – VW – 2nd)
It was more difficult than I had thought. It was a real trap, narrow, with a lot of stumps and increasingly slippery. We jumped about quite a bit. But we ran a tidy race and the car is working very well: in that type of sand, you have to have a good engine and great suspension.
Carlos Sousa (POR – VW – Winner of the special stage)
It’s thanks to the public that I won. I did it for them. In theory, on this type of stage you mustn’t "play the fool", otherwise you risk losing everything. But I really wanted to win this for them – it was amazing to see so many people. The car is in top form. The stage was very technical and definitely not a sprint. It was essential to maintain the right trajectory. I’ve already driven on these tracks, in a Baja in 1998, but the area has changed.
