Jan 2nd, 2012 Dakar Rally Stage 2 Race Info & Discussion

Join in and discuss all the action from Stage 2 of the 2012 Dakar Rally. Robby Gordon finished 5th during stage 1 & Nasser Al Attiyah came home 38th. Raceday chat will be available throughout the entire 2012 Dakar Rally. Raceday chat now works on the Ipad & Iphone.

STAGE 2 TRACKING

STAGE 2: De La Pampa > San Rafael

Connection 487km | Special Stage 290km | Total 777km

COURSE OVERVIEW

The competitors will have an early start and a long way to go to join the start of the special stage. But the pace that the drivers will have to keep up on the first very fast part of the route will immediately ensure that they remain extremely focused. After the big, fast bends negotiated on firm ground, the entrance in a backdrop of dunes will significantly slow down their progress. In Nihuil, the grey-coloured sand bears witness to the intense volcanic activity which occurred in the region several thousand years ago.

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Permalink Reply by Carl Abrams on January 2, 2012 at 2:13pm

The playing field looks a lot more even this year for sure.

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Permalink Reply by Carl Abrams on January 2, 2012 at 2:26pm

Nasser 1st Robby 3hd on the day.

Robby 2nd 2:28 back overall.
Nasser 6th 8:47 back overall

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Permalink Reply by Carl Abrams on January 2, 2012 at 2:27pm

At least that is what tracker is showing now.

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Permalink Reply by Bob on January 2, 2012 at 2:37pm

Nasser made up one of the nine minutes he lost yesterday, so he still has a lot of time to make up. However, if the six guys ahead of him have their share of problems, that could help him too.

The idea that Robby had to tow Nasser yesterday, and had a flat today, and yet now sits in second is something that should strike a fair measure of fear in the competition.

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Permalink Reply by Carl Abrams on January 2, 2012 at 2:41pm

So it was a flat?

I could not find anything that stated the issue for the 3 or so minutes he lost.
Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Bob on January 2, 2012 at 2:50pm

Guys on the chat were saying it was a flat, but not sure if that's official.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on January 2, 2012 at 4:47pm

TOG has posted stage 2 qoutes.Robby had a front puncture

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Permalink Reply by Bob on January 2, 2012 at 2:49pm

One other interesting fact of note : Entering the sand, Nasser was 2:04 behind, exiting the sand, he was 0:54 ahead.

At least in sort of sand in this section, it seems clear that the Hummers can run as quick as any of the 4WD cars.

If not a heck of a lot faster.

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Permalink Reply by Carl Abrams on January 2, 2012 at 2:55pm

Yeah this could bode very well for team Gordon/Hummer in the later stages.

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Permalink Reply by Turtle7 on January 2, 2012 at 3:08pm

So far it looks like the HUMMERS are Humming! RGM may end up with two podiums.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Shaw on January 2, 2012 at 3:08pm

20:50 Cars: Nasser wins the stage, Peter takes the general standings…
Peterhansel was expected to triumph over the day’s 290 kilometres, but it was another former Dakar winner who was victorious at the wheel of his new machine. Nasser Al-Attiyah was the quickest today by 54 seconds. Behind him, after Stephane Peterhansel, the Qatari’s team-mate Robby Gordon confirmed that the imposing American 4x4s were reliable in these types of conditions. Holowczyc and Roma complete the Top 5, shared between the Maxi Hummers and the Mini All4. The result of this second stage means that Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel has taken control of the general standings with a lead of 2’28” over American Robby Gordon (Hummer), who only leads the Mini of Polish driver Holowczyc by 5 seconds. Giniel De Villiers (SAF) in his Toyota is fourth, 3’49” behind, and Nani Roma is in fifth place, 5’32” behind, whilst currently leading Nasser Al-Attiyah who, by shear force of will, picked up sixth place today.