Jan 7th, 2014 Dakar Rally Stage 3 Race Info & Discussion

Join in and discuss all the action from Stage 3 of the 2014 Dakar Rally. Robby Gordon had more vapor lock issues during stage 2, and now finds himself over 3h45m behind. The cars are scheduled to begin the 433km special section at 9:00am/et, Robby Gordon will be the 30th car off the line, beginning his stage at 9:52am/et.

2014 Stage 2 Photos

STAGE 3 TRACKING

STAGE 3: SAN RAFAEL > SAN JUAN

Connection 295km | Special Stage 301km | Total 596km

COURSE OVERVIEW

The competitors of the 2014 Dakar will experience their first taste of the mountains by passing through the Pre-Andes. The Aconcagua Volcano stands 6,962m high and will observe the progress of the vehicles, of which a part will rehearse their high mountain driving techniques. The motorcyclists will climb up 4,300 metres during their special stage, on a ridgeline where they will have the impression of towering over the whole of America! The descent will bring them back to the tough reality of the drivers of the Dakar, as they will only have finished the first part of this marathon stage. They will have to ensure the mechanics for their own vehicles at the isolated bivouac which has been set up for them.

The GREEN section of the route is the connection , the RED is the Special Section of the stage.

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Permalink Reply by Tim Nation on January 7, 2014 at 10:24pm

I hope they are keeping samples of the fuel so they can get it tested .....

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Permalink Reply by Speed Freak 7 on January 7, 2014 at 10:26pm

Considering it seems to be only the LS motors affected and only the US teams I doubt it.

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Permalink Reply by David Juelz on January 7, 2014 at 10:29pm

No "Vapor Lock" in Minnesota!!! It has been -20 below Zero!!!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on January 7, 2014 at 10:49pm

icing on the other hand/

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Permalink Reply by Tim Nation on January 7, 2014 at 10:26pm

I guess that could have been Robby also if he had not gotten towed... what cars towed him both days they deserve some more praise

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Permalink Reply by Kevin driskell on January 7, 2014 at 10:52pm

Robby, Bj, and the Brenthal team are the only ones (that I know of) not running diesel, which won't vapor lock.

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Permalink Reply by Speed Freak 7 on January 7, 2014 at 10:56pm

SMG is also running the LS motor plus a lot of others running gas motors but not LS. Not knowing what was the problem with Chabot on day 1, SMG seems to have the problem figured out!

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Permalink Reply by Roughtoys Racing on January 7, 2014 at 10:25pm

All Day Pace. Dial it in. Thank you crew! Rubby, Yea!, keep it coming. Go Big or Go Home! Robby bring it home and the crew will make it go! Toyo all day. Nice combo for Rough Toys!

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Permalink Reply by pdxracefan on January 7, 2014 at 10:25pm

Re fuel, is it just me and my bad memory, but didn't the ASO used to control and provide the fuel for the rally at each bivouac? Thus the Total connection and race partner? I seem to remember that. Wasn't that included in the entry fee? Maybe this was in Africa, and the obvious lack of gas stations.

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Permalink Reply by BMD on January 7, 2014 at 10:33pm

Maybe in Africa, but I recall many videos of Rob filling up at the local gas station in SA.

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Permalink Reply by Adam G on January 7, 2014 at 10:37pm

been following the Dakar for a long time, its been local pump gas/diesel unless some things changed for this year.

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Permalink Reply by GLuce on January 7, 2014 at 10:38pm

A ton of the questions being asked are laid out pretty well and easy to read, and are very interesting. They can be looked at here: http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2014/docs/Reglement_Auto_Camion_Dakar_20... and because it's a pdf you can have your own copy.