Jan 15th Dakar Rally Stage 12 Race Chat

Join us for the Dakar Rally on Jan 15, 2009,right here and chat about the action during the 12th stage.Robby sits 5th in the overall standings,and will roll off second for stage 12.

Stage 12 - Thursday, January 15

Fiambala > La Rioja

Connection: 4 km | Special: 253 km | Connection: 261 km | Total: 518 km
As concerns crossings, the day’s special is a concentrate of technique. Various types of dunes will be encountered, including the very formidable “white dunes”. Just three days from arrival, this stage can scramble rankings, especially because the assistance vehicles will not have access to the Fiambala bivouac. The Golden Rule is still: “know how to economize your machine”.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Blues on January 15, 2009 at 12:00pm

Need to break out the WRC Hummer manana....

Permalink Reply by WJM on January 15, 2009 at 12:01pm

Hopefully Vigouroux will be across within the next 30 minutes

Permalink Reply by TOG on January 15, 2009 at 12:04pm

Looking forward to todays videos !

Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on January 15, 2009 at 12:17pm

Its actually fairly a big deal that De Villiers was able to beat Miller by as much as he did. Now he's over two minutes ahead of Miller so there is no way for Miller to get past him in the overall without passing him on course tomorrow.

He could do it over the course of two stages, if he can hang close enough....

Permalink Reply by natron008 on January 15, 2009 at 12:23pm

I think the most they would do now is adjust the times so that everyone behind the last car through would all get the same time as that car.

Permalink Reply by WJM on January 15, 2009 at 12:24pm

Difficulty? Isn't this why The Dakar is the toughest race in the world? If it was easy a caveman could do it.

Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on January 15, 2009 at 12:29pm

So that means this years is an EPIC FAILURE!

Permalink Reply by WJM on January 15, 2009 at 12:32pm

Over half the bikes and nearly half the quads have finished. If they throw this out, there's going to a lot of pissed off riders.

Permalink Reply by timothy price on January 15, 2009 at 12:30pm

yea carlos out (minor crash early and co-driver injured sholder)

Permalink Reply by Racingwench on January 15, 2009 at 12:33pm

Saw this in the press release:
Giniel De Villiers benefited from the driving errors of Mark Miller to win the stage. The South-African driver is now in the lead of the rally.

OUCH! What did Miller do to them?

Permalink Reply by Racingwench on January 15, 2009 at 1:03pm

They have audio interview up for Robby.
http://www.dakar.com/2009/DAK/LIVE/us/1200/r7_3-interviews.html
He says that he lost the clutch in a canyon and had to run in first gear. Last 10km he had a flat tire.
What bothers me most is that he closes out the interview saying it will be interesting to see if I can get rolling again? do we need to be worried??

Permalink Reply by Racingwench on January 15, 2009 at 1:12pm

only in 1st gear. So what happens if he does not make it? Is he gone?