Final stage start delayed 19.01.2013: DAKAR RALLY 2013 Argentina/Chile -stage 14 The cloud cover is very low (roughly 200 m) over

DAKAR RALLY 2013
Argentina/Chile -stage 14


The cloud cover is very low (roughly 200 m) over the start of today's special, which means helicopters can't take off at the moment. Therefore, the start of the motorcycle race has been delayed by an hour for safety reasons. It's also raining on the course of today's stage.




Tentative motorcycle start at 9 am local time

After yet another delay due to low altitude clouds over the course, the motorcycle race will start within minutes if the race direction gives its "all clear".


06:53 - car
The cars and trucks hit the road

The 93 cars still in the race have been in transit towards the start of today's special for half an hour. As for the 61 trucks left, they've been moving towards the competitor gathering point for several minutes now.



05:27 - quad
250 - Patronelli takes off


Overall leader Marcos Patronelli started the last stage of the 2013 Dakar at 6:30 am.  The Argentinean was the fifth driver to set off, just behind Lucas Bonetto, Ignacio Casale, Sebastian Husseini and yesterday's winner Sarel van Biljon.  There were 26 quads on the start list this morning.



05:23 - bike
007 - Francisco López leads the charge

Chile's Francisco López is opening the road this morning as the first of the 125 motorcycle riders cleared to start today's 122 km link section.


 Cyril Despres set off right after him at 5:47 am local time. The Frenchman is in the overall lead, with 8'15" on Chaleco.



17:39
La Serena - Santiago: the “final straight”

With 111 km of special stage remaining, a long neutralised zone and then 15 km of "Super Special", the last stage of the Dakar 2013 should not be taken lightly. To reach the Chilean capital, the rally's heroes must still stay concentrated on fast tracks where driving pleasure will be combined with the outlook of accomplishing their mission.


After a section of road, the riders and drivers will then tackle a short showcase style route on which they can delight the spectators with skids and jumps. This will be a foretaste of the thrills the competitors will experience during the grand finishing ceremony organised the day after in front of the La Moneda palace, on Constitution Square, or ‘Plaza de la Constitución' in the local lingo.


Nevertheless, the competitors will have to avoid getting carried away tomorrow, because whilst the gaps in the quad and car general standings are pointing towards a calmer finish, in the bike and truck categories the results are not yet engraved in stone. After all, the Dakar has built its legend on last minute surprises…

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