QUADS News from stage 13 unfolded 18.01.2013: DAKAR 2013 - Argentina/Chile - January 13th, 2013 1st start (GMT-3) : 9:30 AM

DAKAR 2013   - Argentina/Chile - January 13th, 2013
1st start (GMT-3) : 9:30 AM

16:07 - quad
250 - Patronelli at complete ease in the general standings

The day before the finish in Santiago in Chile, Marcos Patronelli can afford to sit back and take it easy. Ignacio Casale lies 1:50'24" behind the incontestable leader of the category.


3:14'43" behind the younger Patronelli brother, in third place Rafal Sonik is ahead of Lucas Bonetto (3:39'55" off the lead), Sebastian Palma (4:27'48" off the lead) and Sebastian Husseini (5:40'44" behind the general standings leader).

14:33 - quad
277 - Van Biljon wins!

Coming back from provisional third place over the last 50 kilometres, Sarel van Biljon has snatched the stage victory at the death in the quad category, 43" ahead of Sebastian Husseini.


The Emirati rider himself took 2nd place by only 7 seconds over Ignacio Casale, after an intense battle between the two quad riders. Lucas Bonetto finishes fourth, 41" behind Van Biljon, and Marcos Patronelli finishes fifth, 2'18" behind the stage winner.

14:02 - quad
Casale and Husseini still battling after 417 km

Only 13 seconds separate the first placed rider, Chilean Ignacio Casale (Yamaha) from the second placed quad of Sebastian Husseini (Honda).

Sarel Van Biljon (E-ATV) is still third, 18" off the lead, Lucas Bonetto (Honda) has moved up to fourth, 1'39" behind Casale, in front of Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) who trails the provisional stage leader by 2'07".



13:43 - quad
254 - Casale catches Husseini after 359 km

Young Chilean Ignacio Casale now leads Sebastian Husseini by 54", South Africain Sarel Van Biljon by 1'44" and general standings leader Marcos Patronelli by 2'03".


Lucas Bonetto, who started the special in the lead, has dropped back, 2'34" behind the provisionals stage leader.

11:54 - quad
265 - Husseini leads at end of section 1

Dutch born Emirati rider Sebastian Husseini has ridden his Honda into the lead at the end of the first section of the special, ahead of Ignacio Casale, 49" off the lead, Lucas Bonetto, 1'32" behind Husseini, Sarel van Biljon, 1'44" behind the Emirati, and Marcos Patronelli, 2'10" behind the current stage leader.


10:35 - quad
256 - Bonetto takes command at CP3

After 163 km, Argentinean Lucas Bonetto has regained command of the special, with a time of 1:53'45", leading South African Sarel van Biljon by 45" and Chilean Ignacio Casale by 56".Sebastian Husseini is fourth, 2'42" of the lead, and Marcos Patronelli is fifth, 2'51" behind the current stage leader.



10:23 - quad
Van Biljon leads Bonetto at CP2

After 153 km, South African Sarel Van Biljon still leads Argentinean Lucas Bonetto (but only by 8") and Chilean Ignacio Casale (by 49").

Sebastian Husseini is fourth, trailing the leader by 1'15", followed by Rafal Sonik, 2'04" off the lead, and Marcos Patronelli, 2'51" behind the stage leader.


09:38 - quad
Bonetto and Van Biljon in front at CP1

Confirming observations made several kilometres after the start, Argentinean Lucas Bonetto and South African Sarel Van Biljon have climbed into the first two places after the first 69 km of the stage. There is a gap of only 7 seconds between the two men and one of 30 seconds between the leader and Ignacio Casale, currently in third.


09:12 - quad
Casale provisionally leads at CP1

Chilean Ignacio Casale, no doubt inspired by the air of his homeland, has been the quickest over the first 69 kilometres, 18 seconds ahead of Sebastian Husseini and 1'30" in front of Argentinean Marcos Patronelli.


However, a clearer picture of the race order can only be given with the arrival of Lucas Bonetto and Sarel Van Biljon, who led after 45 km.



08:19 - quad
265 - Husseini starts the special

The Emirati-based Dutch rider Sebastian Husseini started the special at 10.11 AM local time. The quad race is starting as the bikes are reaching the 69-km mark on the stage.



06:51 - quad
Husseini leads out the quads

Dutch Emirati-based rider Sebastian Husseini, winner of yesterday's stage in front of Marcos Patronelli, has just set off from Copiapo towards La Serena.


The start of the special for the bikes is scheduled at 9.30 AM local time for the first riders and at 10.11 AM local time for the quads.




16:57
Copiapo-La Serena: last of the dunes on the horizon

After a 90-km link stage, the 441-km of the special will not be a trivial matter. Plenty of surprises could still occur on the Dakar 2013. The start on the road section will be relatively late: the timetable takes account of the mercurial weather conditions in the area.


The "Camanchaca" hangs over the first part of the morning in general, so it will only be once this thick fog has dissipated that the first bikes will tackle the last dunes on the rally. The sandy part accounts for a third of the special's length. Thereafter, the rally will head south, on wide tracks which can sometimes hide rocks that can shatter dreams.


On the morning of this penultimate stage of the Dakar 2013, it can be considered that the situation is under control in the quad and car categories where Marcos Patronelli and Stéphane Peterhansel both boast comfortable leads. In the truck race, the three Kamaz leading the category could still witness attacks, even if overall victory seems to be within their grasp.


On two wheels, however, with five pilots within a bracket of one hour, everything is still mathematically possible, even though the impression is clearly advantageous to the official KTM riders.




ASO also logo
photos on automobilsport.com under PHOTOS OFF ROAD and PHOTOS Slideshows