TRUCKS News from stage 12 - updated 17.01.2013: Dakar 2013 - Argentina/Chile stage 12 1st start (GMT-3) : 10:00 AM

Dakar 2013 - Argentina/Chile
stage 12  1st start (GMT-3) : 10:00 AM

15:52 - truck
1-2-3 for Kamaz

The Russian trucks were already at the top of the pile, but tonight they boast a 1-2-3 in the general standings. Eduard Nikolaev still leads the Dakar 2013, 31'20" ahead of Ayrat Mardeev and 50'26" in front of Andrey Karginov.


Behind them, the gaps have closed, because there is only 2'36" between third place and the Tatra driven by Martin Kolomy, himself under threat from Gérard De Rooy's Iveco, only 3'20" behind.



15:18 - truck
Kamaz one-two in front of De Rooy

Andrey Karginov has finished the special in the lead with a time of 4:09'44", in front of his team-mate Ayrat Mardeev by 2'36".


The two Kamaz trucks have been followed in by the two Ivecos belonging to Gerard De Rooy (2'49" behind the winner) and former world rally champion, Miki Biasion (3'10" behind the winner).


In fifth place, 3'56" of the lead, Pieter Versluis's Man truck finished the special with a lead of 6 seconds over the Tatra driven by Ales Loprais. Eduard Nikolaev finished seventh, 6'27" behind the stage winner.




14:49 - truck
A one-two for Kamaz on the horizon?

Andrey Karginov and Ayrat Mardeev are leading the dance in the truck special. 2'19" separate the two Kamaz trucks after 276 km. Behind them, Dutchman Gerard De Rooy is in third, 3'07" off the lead, followed by the Tatra of Ales Loprais, 3'12" off the lead, and the Man driven by Pieter Versluis, 4'16" behind the stage leader.



14:12 - truck
Karginov is on his way again

Russian Kamaz driver Andrey Karginov has resumed racing, as has Polish quad rider Lukasz Laskawiec. Eric Vigouroux, however, is still at a standstill in this zone.


14:10 - truck
510 - Karginov at a standstill

A little before the 239-km point, the Kamaz driven by Andrey Karginov has ground to a halt on a track that crosses the day's stage route, a little bit ahead of the position where Eric Vigouroux also stopped several minutes ago. In the same area, the quad ridden by Lukasz Laskawiec is also still immobile.

13:15 - truck
507 - Biasion leads after 169 km

The Italian has achieved the best time at the half-way point, placing his Iveco ahead of Ales Loprais (Tatra) by 25" and Andrey Karginov (Kamaz) by 26".

Pieter Versluis (Man) occupies fourth place, 1'33" behind the Biasion, and is followed by Martin Kolomy and Gerard De Rooy, respectively 2'36" and 3'46" behind the current stage leader.

12:13 - truck
Kolomy and Versluis battling for the lead

The two crews occupying the leading places are only separated by 3 seconds after 91 km. Miki Biasion has slipped into third place 9 seconds behind the stage leader. They are followed by Ales Loprais (17" off the lead) and Marcel Van Vliet in joint fifth with Andrey Karginov (43" behind the stage leader).



11:42 - truck
Change in the top 3 after 37 km

Dutchman Pieter Versluis (Man) has just put in the best time after 37 km, ahead of Martin Kolomy (Tatra) by 15 seconds. As a result, Czech driver Ales Loprais drops to third position.


11:13 - truck
503 - Loprais catches De Rooy

Only two trucks have reached the intermediate time check point, but it is already evident that the Czech Tatra team driver has caught up with the Dutchman. The Iveco Petronas driver had to stop several kilometres after the start and now trails his adversary by 5'30”.



10:38 - truck
500 - De Rooy kicks off proceedings

The first trucks are beginning to leave the starting point of the special, with Gerard De Rooy at the front. He has been followed by Ales Loprais. In this category, 62 crews are still in the race.

06:29 - truck
500 - De Rooy gets the trucks going

The trucks have been led on to the link stage by Iveco team driver, Gerard De Rooy, the unfortunate favourite of the Dakar 2013.


After the neutralisation of yesterday's stage at CP1, he was awarded the victory ahead of Ales Loprais (Tatra) and Eduard Nikolaev, who, at the wheel of a Kamaz 4326, is the general standings leader in the category, with a lead of 35'11" over his team-mate Ayrat Mardeev.





15:45
Fiambala-Copiapo: the return to Chile

After a 392-km road section, the competitors on the Dakar 2013 will tackle a 319-km timed section. The rally will cross the Andes Mountains from the east to the west this time, via the Paso San Francisco, before dropping down into the Atacama Desert to taste all the types of difficulties that can be faced in the rally-raid discipline.


For the large portions of dunes located in the middle of the special, the riders and crews must climb these “monuments” and avoid getting stuck in hollows that are just as big. On the tracks, the stage will be no easy task, since the rocks and stones, though scattered, could even bring the quickest competitors to a sudden halt.


The participants who managed to reach Copiapó without making mistakes will have scored precious points in the final battle. Following the neutralisation of their special yesterday, the car and truck crews will probably have to tame their frustration, whilst the bikers, still closely grouped behind Cyril Despres, will have to battle to make the difference.


The leading quad riders are relatively safe in terms of position, even if this stage is likely to count among the more decisive on the rally.




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