Good Start to Second Half: Volkswagen Defends First Three Places
Three "Blues” top the leader board: Volkswagen comfortably defended its first three positions overall on the Dakar Rally’s eighth stage between Antofagasta to Copiapó.
Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (E/E) finished second on the day and continue to hold the overall lead by 14 minutes 35 seconds ahead of their team mates Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D) and 22 minutes 28 seconds in front of Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/ZA).
The rally professionals staged and open head-to-head battle throughout the 472 kilometre long and extremely tough stage through Chile. The official time keeping recorded no less than four changes to the lead. To start, the X-raid BMW drivers Guerlain Chicherit (F) and Stéphane Peterhansel (F) exchanged places up until the mid-point of the stage before Mark Miller assumed the lead for Volkswagen. Then last year’s winners Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (ZA/D) took control of proceedings in the fourth Race Touareg before they were caught by Peterhansel just short of the finish line after suffering their second puncture. Peterhansel, who also complained of a tyre failure, nevertheless moved up to fourth place overall as closest rival to the Volkswagen trio almost two hours behind. After suffering two punctures each Sainz, Miller, de Villiers and Al-Attiyah took second to fifth on the day separated by 3 minutes 32 seconds.
The eighth "Dakar” day was dominated by a near 400 kilometre long, extremely stony section. Large boulders and trial-like passages made this part of the 472 kilometre long special stage into a real challenge for suspension and tyres. Constant changes of rhythm demanded permanent concentration from the drivers and navigators. A dune section of soft sand ended the stage between Antofagasta and Copiapó.
Coming up …
Monday, 11 January: 9th leg, Copiapó (RCH)–La Serena (RCH). On the one hand hard, stony, off-road sections and, on the other, fast sections over gravel – the stage between Copiapó and the seaside resort makes the same demands of men and machine. On the ninth stage of the "Dakar” the navigators are in demand: Innumerable junctions in canyons must be taken correctly so as not to lose any time.
The Dakar Rally on TV
11 January
00:45–01:30 Eurosport Highlights 8th leg (re-run)
08:35–09:15 Eurosport Highlights 8th leg (re-run)
11:15–12:00 Eurosport Highlights 8th leg (re-run)
18:45–19:03 RTL RTL aktuell (evening news)
20:20–20:30 Eurosport Arrival at the finish; live report
23:00–23:45 Eurosport Highlights 9th leg
Additional reports on the news and sports programmes of channels n-tv, ARD, ZDF, DMAX and Sky (Motorvision TV).
