Jan 13th, 2012 Dakar Rally Stage 12 Race Info & Discussion

Join in and discuss all the action from Stage 12 of the 2012 Dakar Rally. Robby Gordon finished 25th in stage 11 & is now down over 2 hours in the overall standings. Cars begin stage 12 at 11:35am/et Raceday chat will be available throughout the entire 2012 Dakar Rally. Raceday chat now works on the Ipad & Iphone.

STAGE 12 TRACKING

STAGE 12: Arequipa > Nasca

Connection 412km | Special Stage 245km | Total 657km

COURSE OVERVIEW

Only a flight over the region can allow the Nazca Lines, mysterious motifs created in the ground more than 2,000 years ago, to be admired. The route of the special stage creates another line on the map of Peru which looks like a sand dragon. Although the areas of dunes are evenly spread out, the competitors will definitely remember one of them, which made a deep impression on the reconnaissance team. The dunes follow one after another continuously for almost twenty kilometres, transporting the drivers to a new dimension. As the sand will remain firm in this string of dunes, it will help the drivers to cross them without too much difficulty. But the most skilled dune-crossers will nevertheless be able to create a surprise, in particular three days before the final finish. Those who remember how to perform the "Mauritanian swerve" can save some precious minutes.

STAGE BY STAGE RESULTS

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Permalink Reply by Bob Sadowski on January 13, 2012 at 4:10pm

F'ing Awesome! The main reason I became an RG fan! Way to show them RG!

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Permalink Reply by Ray Therat on January 13, 2012 at 4:18pm

Americans (and maybe Brits) will remember. The French will turn a blind eye to the black eye. They'll just go on saying that Robby cheated, made their hero drive fast (heaven forbid), that biker had no right to be in the middle of the river and so on.

It makes me think that the military protection we (the us armed forces, in which I served) might have been better served to let the Russians take Western Europe and Paris would now be called Cowardgrad.

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Permalink Reply by R. ALDRIDGE on January 13, 2012 at 8:40pm

For Sale: French army rifle, excellent condition, never fired - dropped only once.

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Permalink Reply by Rob Hoban on January 13, 2012 at 4:17pm

We all realize that Robby's day is done but has anyone else noticed that only 23 of the 82 cars that started have even made it to the finish?

Just a great day on the Planet! Friday the 13th my a$$.

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Permalink Reply by Desert X on January 13, 2012 at 4:41pm

Cars/trucks are stopped in the sand dunes like Pierson Milk Vitch at the Glamis Dunes, Robby's practice playground.

American entrants are not completely dead. Skilton's Baja Automotive truck in 44th @ WP4. Also two Polaris RZR XP900s are still in the race!

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Permalink Reply by joseph on January 13, 2012 at 4:43pm

that happens all the time most privateers take several hours longer to finish the day on hard days. there out there right now digging each other out and fighting there best to just finish.that's what the dakar is all about to them{.check dakars web sight for the withdraws tomorrow}

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Permalink Reply by joseph on January 13, 2012 at 4:34pm

told ya i had a good feeling about today . great job guys. wonder how jonnys ride was today

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Permalink Reply by Ben Jeffreys on January 13, 2012 at 4:34pm

Doug, I totally agree with your post about Carlton Kirby. He's supported RG for years, was at the forefront of criticism for Peterhansel when he committed a hit and run, then as soon as Robby is 'disqualified' - he had such a suggestive tone of disappointment. Yet when he wins today and practically shames the ASO live on television be morphed into his biggest fan again.

I think it demonstrated a spinelessness above all. It's something I won't forget. There's being impartial or objective and then there is being sycophantic towards whoever has the highest morale perception. I didn't like it one bit.

Did anyone else who saw the Eurosport show today notice that they practically disregarded RG's participation in the rally, despite it being common knowledge that he won by 15 minutes? It was only when he exited the car did they provide any acknowledgement at all.

Finally, RG is the man. Pure and simple. I always try to write clean posts but I have to say - best fucking moment as a RG fan, ever! Please pardon the French (no pun intended - honest! Lol).

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Permalink Reply by R. ALDRIDGE on January 13, 2012 at 8:47pm

The Dakar website actually said that Novitsky won the stage. They "forgot" RG started way back, even though he led at every waypoint. Right.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Cartwright on January 13, 2012 at 4:38pm

since it is friday the 13th I think Jason Voorhees should pay the ASO a little visit ;)

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Permalink Reply by alan4s on January 13, 2012 at 4:40pm

car 303 - Robby GORDON

I kicked their asses!

I showed the plug that everyone's been talking about that gives me all super power and I just proved that Minis are for girls, because we beat them by twenty minutes. It was a great stage, with big dunes and the car's fast. Last night I went through a whole thing and went on Youtube. You can go to Robby Gordon – Dakar – Air inflation; check it out, it's posted and explains the whole system. It's the same system that the French officials approved one year ago and now they've changed their minds. There, that's the system plug, with no possible chance of air. We schooled these boys. I'm pissed. I'm pissed at Stephane and I'm pissed at Nani for challenging my character about being a cheater and today I kicked their asses. I'm going to prove something every day for the rest of the rally. We're going to win every special from here home.