Jan 12th, 2013 Dakar Rally Stage 8 Race Info & Discussion

Join in and discuss all the action from Stage 8 of the 2013 Dakar Rally. Robby Gordon recorded his 3rd straight 3rd place finish in Stage 7, but remains 23rd overall. Gordon is still down over 5 hours in the overall, but will get yet another good starting spot in an attempt to win his first stage of the rally. The cars are slated to begin the special section of stage 8 at 12:05pm/et and Robby Gordon will begin his special section around 12:11pm/etam/et. Raceday chat will be available throughout the entire 2013 Dakar Rally. UPDATE: Stage 8 will now begin at KM288.

2013 Photos

STAGE 8 TRACKING

STAGE 8: SALTA > SAN MIGUEL DE TUCAMAN

Connection 379km | Special Stage 470km | Total 849km

COURSE OVERVIEW

The Tucuman route will be divided into two timed sections with a variety of scenery. With hoodoos, canyons and cacti, the competitors will discover the red and green backdrop of Argentina’s most beautiful natural landscape, which will unfold for more than 150 km creating a Western atmosphere. During the second half of the timed section, which will take place in a region completely unknown to the Dakar, the contrast will be apparent on the sandy and sometimes tricky tracks. It may also be manifested through the weather conditions, if the wind is combined with the high temperatures which ravage the region. The rest day will rarely have been more deserved, in particular for the motorcyclists who will finish their marathon stage..

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kathy Kubara on January 12, 2013 at 9:07pm

They have no credibility

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Permalink Reply by Speed Freak 7 on January 12, 2013 at 9:04pm

If this doesn't say they ASO is full of shit then I don't know what does!

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Permalink Reply by Carl Abrams on January 12, 2013 at 9:24pm

Well I bet Lance Armstrong agrees with you.

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Permalink Reply by GTX - HEMI on January 13, 2013 at 2:13am

Carl..........lance juced........end of story.....ASO knew but they needed someone to conferm it.

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Permalink Reply by Josh Fisher on January 13, 2013 at 3:37am

They all (as in all the top guys) juiced. l0l

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Permalink Reply by Carl Abrams on January 13, 2013 at 9:47am

Exactly my point.
There were plenty of French Riders on that needle just like Lance.
As for him juicing it is all still hearsay as far as hard evidence goes.
I am not defending Lance I am just saying he passed all their screenings.

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Permalink Reply by Speed Freak 7 on January 13, 2013 at 11:01am

Just like Robby did last year at scrutineering then when he became a threat in the race they changed there tune.

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Permalink Reply by TOG on January 13, 2013 at 11:08am

Carl, he passed the screenings because, at the time, there was no way to test for Epogen, Arenesp, etc. -

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Permalink Reply by PathfinderCS on January 12, 2013 at 9:37pm

Credit to ASO for making the decision. It's not fair; but that's the beast that Dakar is. Everyone will take their lumps and move on to the next stage.

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Permalink Reply by Jason on January 12, 2013 at 10:00pm

ok..I stepped out for the afternoon.. wth happened!!? Nasser DQ'ED? Somebody please bring me up to SPEED (pun intended)

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Permalink Reply by Carl Abrams on January 12, 2013 at 10:11pm

Just scroll up it is all there.

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Permalink Reply by mark roye on January 12, 2013 at 10:35pm

This entire discussion is pointless. None of us knows the facts, no rules have been cited, and it is a safe bet that all interesrted parties were making their case quite forcefully to the ASO. It should be kept in mind that none of this likely turned on a satellite call from one or more competitors---the organizers have not one, but 10 helicopters above the primary competitors virtually continuously. It is quite likely that the organizers were getting real time info and did the best possible to enforce the red flag. The video above of the latest Euro-sport report even showed a surge wave of water comming down the wash on top of already high water. This was a very dynamic---and dangerous--situation that anyone who has been in the desert during a flash flood understands. I've been in exactly that part of Argentina and seen those areas go from dry wash to raging torrent in minutes. Wheter it was 1.5 meter (5 feet) or double that makes little difference---either can be deadly, and the amount of water flowing can vary from minute to minute. Let 'em race and enjoy it. Keep in mind that even in NASCAR someone is always lobbying for a yellow flag, claiming debris on track. This is big time motorsport with big time players.