Dakar - STAGE 3: NADOR – ER RACHIDIA - Breaking News

[totalmotorcycle]

Dakar - STAGE 3: NADOR – ER RACHIDIA - Breaking News
Monday, January 8, 2007 - Dakar - dakar.com



20:44

463 vehicles made it through the special stage
At 19.00 GMT, 233 motorbikes, 169 cars and 61 trucks had finished the third special stage and were heading for or had arrived at the bivouac at Er-Rachidia, the finishing point of this third stage.

18:49

- Trucks Stage 3 summary
Pending validation, Russian Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) won the third special scratch time stage, 10’39" ahead of Dutchman Gerard De Rooy (Ginaf), and took over the lead in the general standings, 9’53" ahead of the very same Gerard De Rooy. The day’s third best time, as well as third position in the general rankings, went to Dutchman Hans Stacey (Man).

18:45 - auto

Stage 3 summary
Pending validation, South-African Giniel De Villiers (VW) was victorious in the third special scratch time stage, 25" ahead of his Spanish team-mate Carlos Sainz, who took over the lead in the general standings, 1’02" in front of De Villiers. The day’s third best time went to Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi). In the 2-wheel drive category, Jean-Louis Schlesser (Buggy) triumphed, boasting the 12th-placed scratch time. In the Open category, Eric Vigouroux (Chevrolet) tasted victory, notching up 18th position in the scratch time standings. Finally, in the Production category, Portuguese driver Adelio Machado (Toyota) won, finishing with the 37th-placed scratch time.

18:40 - moto

Stage 3 summary
Pending validation, Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM) has won the third special scratch time stage, 56" ahead of American Chris Blais (KTM) and 2’57" in front of Spaniard Isidre Esteve Pujol (KTM), who nonetheless has taken over the lead in the general standings, 26" ahead of Coma. In the 450 cc category, the stage victory went to Chilean Francisco Lopez (Honda), who recorded the 10th scratch time. In the Marathon category, South African Elmer Symons (KTM) was triumphant, finishing with the 15th scratch time. Finally, for the quads, Spaniard Carlos Avendano (Suzuki) won with the 58th placed scratch time.

18:05

- Trucks - Chagin scores best provisional time
No. 500, CHAGIN/YAKUBOV/SAVOSTIN – KAMAZ
Now that the first 4 trucks have arrived at the end of the special stage, Vladimir Chagin is the virtual leader of the special with a time of 3’22’13", 10’39" ahead of Gerard de Rooy and 11’35" in front of Hans Stacey.

16:28 - auto

Broken A arm for Monnet
No. 425, PHILIPPE MONNET - BUGGY, SUPER PRODUCTION
French skipper Philippe Monnet, driving an SMG buggy on his own, is currently halted after 160 km of the special stage due to a broken A arm and is waiting for his assistance team.

16:25 - moto

Diallo and Barbezant waiting for the broom car
No. 36, MAME LESS DIALLO - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
No. 55, GERARD BARBEZANT - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
Senegalese rider Mame Less Diallo and Frenchman Gérard Barbezant are currently halted at CP1 of the special stage due to mechanical problems and are waiting for the broom car.

16:12

- Trucks - Chagin in the lead at CP1
No. 500, CHAGIN/YAKUBOV/SAVOSTIN - KAMAZ
At CP1 after 113 km, Russian Vladimir Chagin is the virtual leader of the special stage with a lead of 2’42" over Frenchman Philippe Jacquot and 3’34" over Dutchman Gerard De Rooy.

16:08 - moto

Mechanical problems for Despres
No. 2, CYRIL DESPRES - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
Placed 3rd at CP1, Cyril Despres only managed to finish the special stage in 21st position, 22’26" behind the day’s winner Spaniard Marc Coma, due to a broken gear-box at the end of the special stage. Forced to finish in first gear, the Frenchman is now on a slow journey to the finishing point of today’s stage.

15:12 - moto

A blow for Faria
No. 7, RUBEN FARIA - YAMAHA, SUPER PRODUCTION
Winner of the first stage on Saturday, Portugal’s Ruben Faria has suffered a blown out engine after 185 km of the special stage and is now waiting for the broom car.

15:10 - auto

Best provisional time for De Villiers
No. 301, DE VILLIERS/VON ZITZEWITZ - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
Now that the first 5 cars have finished the special stage, South African Giniel De Villiers is the virtual leader of the special section with a time of 2’46’12", 0’25" ahead of Carlos Sainz and 3’18 in front of Stephane Peterhansel.

14:28 - auto

De Villiers in the lead at CP1
No. 301, DE VILLIERS/VON ZITZEWITZ - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
After 113 km and at CP1, South African Giniel De Villiers is in virtual first position of the special stage with a lead of 0’53" over Spaniard Carlos Sainz and 1’04" over Japanese driver Hiroshi Masuoka.

14:12 - moto

Best provisional time for Coma
No. 1, MARC COMA - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
After the arrival of the first 20 bikes at the finishing line of the special stage, Spaniard Marc Coma is virtual leader of the special stage with a time of 3’10’36", 0’56" ahead of Chris Blais and 2’57" in front of Isidre Esteve Pujol.

14:09 - moto

Embro decides to call it a day
No. 108, JAMES EMBRO - KTM, MARATHON
For no apparent reason, during the middle of the special stage, American James Embro has decided to drop out today and is now heading to Tangiers.

13:41 - auto

Jutta is on her way again
No. 307, KLEINSCHMIDT/THORNER - BMW, SUPER PRODUCTION
German Jutta Kleinschmidt has rejoined the race.

13:39 - auto

Fire starts for Kleinschmidt
No. 307, KLEINSCHMIDT/THORNER - BMW, SUPER PRODUCTION
The misery continues for German Jutta Kleinschmidt: her car caught fire 20 km from CP1 on the special stage. Although they put the fire out quickly, the crew is now waiting for help to get out of a ditch and set off again.

13:12 - moto

Coma leads after 193 km
No. °1, MARC COMA - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
After the first 193 kilometres, Spaniard Marc Coma is the virtual leader of the special stage, 1’55" in front of David Casteu and 2’35" ahead of Cyril Despres.

13:00 - auto

Sainz in the lead after 65 km
No. 303, SAINZ/PERIN - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
Spaniard Carlos Sainz has taken the lead after 65 km, 20" ahead of Hiroshi Masuoka and 26" in front of Giniel De Villiers.

12:52 - auto

Miller in the lead after 34 km
No. 305, MILLER/PITCHFORD - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
American Mark Miller now leads after 34 km, 40" in front of Masuoka.

12:47 - auto

Masuoka leads after 34 km
No. 306, MASUOKA/MAIMON - MITSUBISHI, SUPER PRODUCTION
Now that the first 40 cars have started the special stage, Japanese driver Hiroshi Masuoka is the virtual leader after 34 km, 2" in front of Spaniard Carlos Sainz and 9" ahead of South African Giniel De Villiers.

12:33 - moto

First U-turns
No. 88, ENNIO CUCURACHI - KTM, MARATHON
No. 180, PETER STIJKEL - YAMAHA, SUPER PRODUCTION
No. 196, CORNELIS KARREMANS - YAMAHA, SUPER PRODUCTION
After falling victim to navigation mistakes in the very first kilometres of the special stage, riders Nos. 88, 180 and 196 covered around 4 km before turning about to get back on the right track.

12:17 - moto

Blais leads at CP1
No. 9, CHRIS BLAIS - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
79th rider to start this special stage, American Chris Blais is now virtual leader of the stage at CP1, 39" ahead of Spaniard Marc Coma.

12:15 - auto

Sainz is on his way
No. 303, SAINZ/PERIN - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
Triumphant in yesterday’s special, Spaniard Carlos Sainz has kicked off proceedings in the car category for today’s special stage, at 10.54 GMT as scheduled.

12:11 - moto

Despres, 2nd at CP1

No. 2, CYRIL DESPRES - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION

Having set off in 25th position at the start of the special stage, Frenchman Cyril Despres came in 2nd position at CP1, 50" behind virtual leader Marc Coma and 28" in front of David Casteu, who is now 3rd.


11:58 - moto

Coma leads at CP1
No. 1, MARC COMA - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
At CP1 after 113 km, Spaniard Marc Coma is the virtual leader of the special stage with a lead of 1’18" over Frenchman David Casteu and 2’42" over Spaniard Isidre Esteve Pujol. Portuguese rider Helder Rodrigues, the first to start this morning, has already lost 10’55 on Coma.

11:40 - moto

Coma leads after 94 km
No. 1, MARC COMA - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
After the first 94 kilometres, Spaniard Marc Coma is the virtual leader of the special stage, 1’29" in front of David Casteu and 2’38" ahead of Isidre Esteve Pujol.

11:21 - moto

200 bikes in the special stage
By 10.15 GMT, 200 competitors had started the 3rd special stage of the rally.

10:46 - moto

50 bikes in the special stage
At 09.33 GMT, the first 50 competitors had started the 3rd special stage of the rally.

10:34

Rodrigues kicks-off the special stage
No. 10, HELDER RODRIGUES - YAMAHA, SUPER PRODUCTION
Victorious in the special stage yesterday, Portuguese rider Helder Rodrigues was the first to get to grips with the day’s special stage, at 09.05 GMT (rally time) as scheduled.

10:27

START OF LIVE COVERAGE
Welcome to all. On completion of the two European special stages, 504 of the 510 crews who started out from Lisbon on Saturday disembarked this morning in Nador in Morocco, the starting point for stage number three today. 6 competitors have dropped out: No. 158, ALI MACHLAB - KTM, MARATHON No. 174, SIMON DROUX - YAMAHA, SUPER PRODUCTION No. 202, FRANCK WEISSNER - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION No. 324, LOHR/DE ROISSARD - MERCEDES, SUPER PRODUCTION No. 419, JUCHAULT/ROLET - TOYOTA, PRODUCTION No. 572, SKILTON/GRIJALVA/CAMACHO - MERCEDES.

05:23

STAGE 3: NADOR – ER RACHIDIA
649 km, including 252 km against the clock, are on the menu for the third stage. After a short night on the boat, the competitors will set foot in Africa. They will then really get to grips with the race: the route will call on navigational skills at the start of the special section, before leaving pride of place to driving talent at the end of the stage, thanks to several delicate sections crossing streams. This terrain could well benefit an experienced driver such as Jean-Louis Schlesser, who triumphed last year in this same African special stage.