Dakar Protest Results

It was reported that RGM lost the appeal on the protest for the air handling system. It wasn't for tire pressure but for cooling the electronics per the article.

"There's an old saying amongst motorsport enthusiasts that the only people who benefit from protests - especially at international level - are the lawyers.

Well, the lawyers must have had a field day on this one, as American Robbie Gordon appealed his exclusion from the 2012 Dakar Rally to the highest levels of the FIA - and lost.

Apparently Gordon and his Qatari team mate, 2011 winner Nasser Al-Attiyah, were having problems with heat build-up in the engine compartments of their Hummers that was affecting the electrical systems.

Al-Attiyah battled on until he suffered three alternator failures in quick succession on the 377km Stage 10 from Iquique to Arica, at which point he was forced to throw in the towel.

KEEPING THE PROBLEM UNDER CONTROL

Gordon, however, had put in extra ducting to feed cool air to the vulnerable electrics, which kept the problem under control and enabled him to run flat out without frying his Hummer's alternator.

But when the stewards (possibly alerted by Al-Attiyah's demise) noticed the extra ducting after Stage 10, they ruled that the modifications could improve the engine's performance, thus rendering the Hummer ineligible under the class regulations, and they excluded him from the rally.

Gordon, who was chasing Stephane Peterhansel for the lead at the time, and was in with a shout at winning the rally outright, promptly protested his exclusion (wouldn't you?) and was allowed to continue under protest.

In the end, he finished fifth, but the resultant, long drawn-out legalities meant the results remained provisional until the Gordon's appeal was finally decided - in the stewards' favour - at a hearing in Paris last week. "

http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/motorsport/gordon-loses-dakar-exclusi...

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Permalink Reply by Michael Martinez on March 27, 2012 at 9:40am

Here's todays' french lesson....................PUT YOUR SKIN ON Fphoulk Hkweew

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Permalink Reply by SlyFoxx on March 27, 2012 at 9:48am

No technical info? Not much of a story then. Could have shortened it to "RGM Lost Appeal but we don't really know why."

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Lutz on March 27, 2012 at 10:52am

While irritating - this hardly matters....you either win or you don't.

Everything else is to sell SPEED....and, RG put on a clinic down there and generated a lot of talk, awareness, etc for the brand. Honestly, the controversy probably helped in the selling of SPEED

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Permalink Reply by alan4s on March 27, 2012 at 11:14am

Though it will affect initial starting position for the 2013 Dakar.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on March 27, 2012 at 11:22am

@Alan, I don't believe it will matter for starting position.Day one starting position is based on the ASO's 'seeding'
Maybe if Robby does sue,like he said in interview ,that might affect his seeding position.:-(

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Permalink Reply by alan4s on March 27, 2012 at 11:51am

I thought ASO seeding was done by a drivers previous year finish. That's why Nasser was in the 300 car, and started first on stage one - since he was the returning champ. With a 5th in 2012, RG should have been in the 304 in 2013, starting fifth on stage one.

I suppose ASO could disregard the FIA ruling when it comes time to seed for 2013. But if they don't, then RG may be starting far back in the pack for stage one.

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Permalink Reply by speedy7 on March 27, 2012 at 5:54pm

Thats if there is going to be a 2013 entry, just saying the way things are going now.....

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Permalink Reply by WJM on March 27, 2012 at 1:06pm

Sounds like the ASO couldn't get the "redneck supercharger" accusation to stick so they pulled something else out of their ass.

"But when the stewards (possibly alerted by Al-Attiyah's demise) noticed the extra ducting after Stage 10, they ruled that the modifications could improve the engine's performance, thus rendering the Hummer ineligible under the class regulations, and they excluded him from the rally."

New spark plugs, fresh fluids, filters, and a tune up could improve the engine's performance, too.

Another Senna vs. FIA screw job.