Courtesy of Nancy Knapp Schilke - Motorsport.com

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Breaking news

17:23 - auto

Major detour for the Barbier’s

No. 383, BARBIER/BARBIER - MITSUBISHI, PRODUCTION
Following a navigation error after 265 km of the special stage, French couple Christian and Odile Barbier took a detour of 47 kilometres before turning back to rejoin the ideal route at km 283 and set off again on the normal course of this timed section.

16:36

- Truck Mechanical problem for Stacey

No. 501, HANS STACEY – MAN
Leader of the special stage after 277 km, Dutchman Hans Stacey is currently halted due to mechanical problems and is carrying out repairs before setting off again.

16:21 - moto

SOUTH AFRICAN ELMER SYMONS IN FATAL ACCIDENT

No. 107, ELMER SYMONS
The organisers of the Dakar were this morning informed of the death of South African Elmer Symons, rider number 107, during the 4th stage.
At the age of 29, Elmer Symons was taking part in his first Dakar as a competitor having participated in two others as part of an assistance team.
The rally organisers waited for the arrival at the bivouac of his brother Kingsley Symons, who was providing assistance for him, in order to express their support and sadness.

16:16 - auto

Clutch problem for Peterhansel

No. 302, STEPHANE PETERHANSEL - MITSUBISHI, SUPER PRODUCTION
Placed in 2nd position at CP2, 45" behind the leader, Stephane Peterhansel suffered a burned out clutch on the last section of the special stage. He eventually arrived in 10th position at the end of the special, 25’14" behind the provisional winner Jean-Louis Schlesser. Peterhansel is now 9th in the provisional general rankings, 24’01 behind leader Carlos Sainz.

15:35 - auto

Broken U-joint for Van Den Broeck

No. 360, VAN DEN BROECK/FERYN - TOYOTA SUPER PRODUCTION
The Belgian team of Michel Van den Broeck and Pascal Feryn has suffered a broken U-joint after 296 km of the special stage and are trying to repair it.

15:17

- Trucks Stacey leads at CP1

No. 501, HANS STACEY – MAN
Now that the first 4 trucks have gone through CP1, Dutchman Hans Stacey is the virtual leader of the special stage, 3’26 ahead of Russian Vladimir Chagin and 12’03 in front of Frenchman Philippe Jacquot.

15:15 - auto

Schlesser is the provisional winner

No. 310, SCHLESSER/DEBRON - BUGGY SCHLESSER, SUPER PRODUCTION
Now that the first 8 cars have finished this 4th special stage, Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser is virtual leader in the scratch times, 7’58" ahead of Spaniard Carlos Sainz and 8’05 in front of Spaniard Nani Roma.

14:25 - moto

Broken engine for Frostad

No. 206, GJERMOND FROSTAD - YAMAHA, SUPER PRODUCTION
Norwegian rider Gjermond Frostad has suffered a broken engine after 353 km of the special stage and, unable to repair it, is now waiting for the broom car.

14:23

- Trucks Stacey leads after 159 km

No. 501, HANS STACEY – MAN
Now that the first 8 trucks have completed 159 km, Dutchman Hans Stacey is still the virtual leader of the special stage, 3’06 ahead of Russian Vladimir Chagin and 6’27 in front of Gerard De Rooy.

14:21 - auto

The misery continues for Kleinschmidt

No. 307, KLEINSCHMIDT/THORNER - BMW, SUPER PRODUCTION
After electrical problems and a small fire during the previous special stages, German Jutta Kleinschmidt is currently stuck at CP2, following a clutch problem, after having arrived in 10th position at this same CP.

13:48 - auto

Schlesser leads at CP2

No. 310, SCHLESSER/DEBRON - BUGGY SCHLESSER, SUPER PRODUCTION
Now that the first 8 cars have passed through CP2, Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser is the virtual leader of the special stage, 42" ahead of countryman Stephane Peterhansel and 5’45 in front of Portugal’s Carlos Sousa.

13:46 - moto

Coma is the provisional winner

After arrival of the first 5 bikes at the finishing line of this 4th special stage, Spaniard Marc Coma leads, 12’16 ahead of countryman Isidre Esteve Pujol and 18’56 ahead of Cyril Despres.

13:42

483 vehicles started out on the special stage

On closure of checks at the start of this 4th special, 229 bikes, 173 cars and 81 trucks took starter’s orders for the special stage this morning. 9 bikes, 5 cars and 3 trucks did not start.

13:40 - auto

Engine failure for Wade

No. 408, WADE/DEMAZURE - NISSAN, SUPER PRODUCTION
Having suffered engine failure after 73 km of the special stage, the Franco-Senegalese team of Syndiely Wade and Pierre Henri Demazure are currently awaiting assistance, to carry out repairs and get started again.

13:38 - auto

Schlesser in the lead after 216 km

No. 310, SCHLESSER/DEBRON - BUGGY SCHLESSER, SUPER PRODUCTION
Now that the first 18 cars have completed 216 km, Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser is the virtual leader of this special stage, 2’37 ahead of countryman Stéphane Peterhansel and 3’18 ahead of Portugal’s Carlos Sousa.

13:36

- Truck – Stacey in the lead after 53 km

No. 501, HANS STACEY – MAN Now that the first 7 trucks have completed 53 km, Dutchman Hans Stacey is the virtual leader of the special stage, 2’24 in front of countryman Gerard De Rooy and 3’51 ahead of Russian’ Vladimir Chagin.

12:57 - moto

Despres 3rd at CP2

No. 2, CYRIL DESPRES - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
Frenchman Cyril Despres has passed CP2 in 3rd position, 16’47 behind provisional leader Marc Coma.

12:55 - moto

It’s all over for Barros

N°230, SYLVIO BARROS - KTM, MARATHON
Having suffered a fall on the special stage, the Brazilian rider Sylvio Barros has decided to throw in the towel due to his many injuries, which are not serious however, and is now waiting for the broom car.

12:53 - auto

Zoetaert repairs...

No. 444, ZOETAERT/CLAEYS - BUGGY AUDI, SUPER PRODUCTION
Due to a twisted steering tiller after 75 km of the special stage, the Belgian team of Werner Zoetaert and Stefaan Claeys are busy with repairs but are looking to get going again quickly.

12:48 - moto

Ramel breaks down

No. 39, GREGORY RAMEL - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
French biker Grégory Ramel has broken down after 142 km of the special stage and does not look like restarting.

12:46 - moto

Mechanical problems for De Baar

No. 57, PASCAL DE BAAR - HONDA, MARATHON
Dutchman Pascal De Baar has stopped after CP1, following mechanical problems.

12:43 - moto

Coma leads at CP2

No. 1, MARC COMA - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
Now that the first 5 bikes have gone through CP2, Spaniard Marc Coma is the virtual leader of the special stage, 9’37 ahead of countryman Isidre Esteve Pujol and 19’41 in front of American Chris Blais.

12:15 - moto

Coma leads at CP1

No. 1, MARC COMA - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
Now that the first 40 bikes have gone through CP1, Spaniard Marc Coma is the virtual leader of the special stage, 9’34 in front of countryman Isidre Esteve Pujol and 13’15 ahead of Frenchman David Casteu.

12:00 - auto

Al Attiyah in the lead after 90 km

No. 309, NASSER AL ATTIYAH NASSER - BMW, SUPER PRODUCTION
Now that the first 20 cars have passed the 90 km mark, Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah is the virtual leader of the special stage, 1" in front of Carlos Sousa and 6" ahead of Stephane Peterhansel.

11:40 - moto

Crash for Fedorov

No. 234, PAVEL FEDOROV - YAMAHA, SUPER PRODUCTION
Russian rider Pavel Fedorov has had a fall, but without serious injury, after 71 km and has broken his bike.

11:08 - moto

Palante falls

No. 122, ERIC PALANTE - HONDA, SUPER PRODUCTION
At 08.05 GMT, Belgian Eric Palante was victim to an accident during the first kilometre. Under the supervision of the medical team, the rider has been taken back to the bivouac in Er-Rachidia for an examination.

11:05 - auto

The cars have started

No. 301, DE VILLIERS/VON ZITZEWITZ - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
Yesterday’s winner of the special, South African Giniel De Villiers, has kicked off proceedings for the day’s special stage in the car category, at 09.06 GMT as scheduled.

10:51 - moto

Coma leads after 90 km

After the first 90 km of the special stage, Spaniard Marc Coma is leading, 5’10 ahead of countryman Isidre Esteve Pujol and 5’11 in front of American Jonah Street. Setting off in 21st position this morning, Frenchman Cyril Despres has already climbed back up to 4th position, 7’23 behind the leader.

10:26 - moto

End of the road for Buratti

No. 167, LORENZO BURATTI - HONDA, SUPER PRODUCTION
Italian biker Lorenzo Buratti, due to a problem with his brakes caused by a pierced hose at the start of the day’s special stage, will not be participating in the special and is now looking for a means of getting to Ouarzazate.

10:22 - moto

Duclos crashes

No. 7, ALAIN DUCLOS - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
At 07.56 GMT, the Alain Duclos’s warning beacon was triggered after a fall during the first 10 km of the special stage. Under the supervision of the medical team, the rider has been taken back to Er-Rachidia.

09:50

START OF LIVE COVERAGE

Welcome to all. The winner of yesterday’s special stage, Spaniard Marc Coma, has got proceedings underway for the day’s special at 07.20 GMT this morning, as scheduled.

05:35

STAGE 4: ER RACHIDIA - OUARZAZATE

679 km, including 405 km against the clock, are on the menu for the fourth stage. The route is a first test of the competitors’ resistance, with some very fast sections, but also some fords as well as the first real dunes. It is a firebrand’s paradise which could favour experienced competitors, in particular Stephane Peterhansel… It should be noted that the bikers will have a private bivouac at Ouarzazate. They will have to deal with their machines by themselves if there are problems since assistance vehicles will be forbidden.

 

-credit: dakar.com