Jan 8th, 2014 Dakar Rally Stage 4 Race Info & Discussion

Join in and discuss all the action from Stage 4 of the 2014 Dakar Rally. Robby Gordon recorded a 6th place finish in stage 3, and is now 3h46m behind. The first part of the special section of stage 4 is 217km, followed by a 185km 'neutral zone', then the last section is 284km (657km total). This is the longest special since 2005.

2014 Stage 3 Photos

STAGE 4 TRACKING

STAGE 4: SAN JUAN > CHILECITO

Connection 211km | Special Stage 657km | Total 868km

COURSE OVERVIEW

The strategy of the motorcyclists will come into play: initially their navigational skills will be seriously tested at the beginning of the morning, and then they will be faced with the problem of worn tyres, as they have already been over-used the day before. As for the drivers of cars, they will have an even more demanding route to tackle in the countryside. The Dakar’s competitors haven’t faced a special stage this long since the historical one from Zouerat to Tichit in 2005! They will have to cross rivers, descend the canyons in a Wild West setting and beware of the other participants: as these terrains are often wide open, it will be entirely possible to overtake fellow competitors.

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

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kevin Meyer on January 8, 2014 at 7:49am

Sweet. After the long neutralization zone.

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Permalink Reply by Alexis Pérez Castro on January 8, 2014 at 7:53am

where is the chat?

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Permalink Reply by yano on January 8, 2014 at 7:49am

yay thx tog

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Meyer on January 8, 2014 at 7:51am

They are dropping like flies- South African Leeroy Poulter's Toyota has remained at a standstill at km 47 for over 20 minutes now. This is much longer than what it takes to change a tyre and suggests the Toyota's problems are serious. Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit and his Corvette-powered buggy have also remained at a standstill for over 20 minutes, 65 km into today's special. The former ski champion's mechanical problems also seem serious.

Poulter and Chicherit were both in front of RG in the overall standings... damn what a long stage!

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Meyer on January 8, 2014 at 7:55am

Robby should be next thru WP 5 into the neutral zone

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Permalink Reply by GLuce on January 8, 2014 at 7:58am

Sainz is flying!
Pos. N° Name Make Time Variation Penalty
1 301 AL-ATTIYAH (QAT), CRUZ (ESP) MINI 001:50:01 00:00:00
2 303 SAINZ (ESP), GOTTSCHALK (DEU) SMG 001:50:50 00:00:49 00:00:00
3 307 TERRANOVA (ARG), FIUZA (PRT) MINI 001:51:39 00:01:38 00:00:00
4 330 VILLAGRA (ARG), PEREZ COMPANC (ARG) MINI 001:52:20 00:02:19 00:00:00
5 304 ROMA (ESP), PÉRIN (FRA) MINI 001:52:36 00:02:35 00:00:00
6 300 PETERHANSEL (FRA), COTTRET (FRA) MINI 001:54:07 00:04:06 00:00:00
7 309 HOLOWCZYC (POL), ZHILTSOV (RUS) MINI 001:56:36 00:06:35 00:00:00
8 305 GORDON (USA), WALCH (USA) HUMMER 001:57:06 00:07:05 00:00:00

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Meyer on January 8, 2014 at 8:01am

Gordon thru WP5 9:39 down

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Permalink Reply by Head Held High on January 8, 2014 at 8:01am

Gordon in at 5th so far

9:39 back...

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Meyer on January 8, 2014 at 8:04am

... and should be entering the neutralization zone. Over 150 KM of "Speed limits." Times at WP 5 and 6 should be the same but we'll see. What is the speed limit down there anyway?