Antofagasta, Chile (January 8, 2010) – Today marked the longest special of the grueling 14 stage Dakar Rally for Team HUMMER. Measuring in at 641 km, the special was made even more difficult by the varied terrain that competitors had to race across. As competitors travelled from Antofagasta to Iquique they encountered everything from areas of fast off-track, to slow track, to windy track and even a salar. Stage 7, which was expected to take competitors around seven hours to complete, was filled with magnificent views of the Chilean landscape. Drivers were challenged early in the day as they crossed over sand dunes. However, the most demanding part of the stage came when competitors had to cross the salar. The salar, which spans 3 km, is an area filled with huge blocks of dry salt that requires competitors to slow their speed to under 10 km/h. Once competitors made it past this portion of the stage, it was mostly fast, open track to the finish line.

What seemed to be a great start for Robby Gordon and his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires HUMMER ended in heartbreak. Gordon led the stage through the halfway point before an alternator failure crippled his HUMMER on the course, crushing his hope for another stage win. Once the No. 302 was back on course, he finished the stage in 24th place and dropped to 10th in the overall standings.

“We started off with a really good run. By the start of the second liaison, I motored by two cars and was about the fifth car on the road. I saw low voltage on the dash and switched back and forth between batteries for about 120k before the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires HUMMER finally stopped running. We had to wait a long time for a replacement, which cost us a lot of time. It’s just a huge bummer. I am ready for tomorrow’s rest day so that we can reevaluate and strategize for the rest of the race. Our plan is to come on strong for the final stages and make up as much ground as possible.”

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if you can't win the whole thing, then win a couple more stages for us following you! You're still the man!
keep on going! youre gonna make it! Youre the man!
Well, given the issues he's had with alternator failures in Cup, I guess it's only fitting for that to follow him across the world...

Good luck the rest of the way!
Stay focused and enjoy the drive, like you do in Glamis, Baja, Parker, etc...
Robby: You had Overheating Problems Caused By Loosing A Belt. Change All the Parts that are Connected Thru the Belts, from Pullys to WaterPump to every Nut and Bolt and Bracket. You have nothing to Loose by Replacing Everything. Vibration is Your Enemy to Part Failure. We Want You To KICK SOME ASS NOW and SHOW The Volkswagens WHAT A INDEPENDENT AMERICAN CAN DO !!!
Pat I think you hit on something. I was thinking the same thing when I read that he was throwing belts. They don't come off just because they want to - there is a cause for it. Fix the cause(s), leave nothing to chance. And oh by the way, gas on!
Can't win it, and a Top 5 is going to be a tough shot. Win another stage or two and lay the hammer down.
Winning is pretty much out of the question and even a top five is a long shot now. Hopefully RG can hold on to a top ten and Baldwin can get into the top twenty.

Some stage wins along the way would be nice, but the VWs aren't letting up for anything.....
He was over 10 hrs down last year, and still got the podium. A top 5 is most certainly possible. Stage wins would be real nice too.
Robby go balls out!! Make them make mistakes trying to stay ahead of you and your badboy. Push them to the limit.
stay positive guys - keep your heads up - move foward - long way to go anything can happen - bad luck is behind us now - WFO !!!!
Robby and team, we are behind you and behind BJ all the way. You are the absolute King of overcoming obstacles and pushing right on through. Youns can get it done, I know it.

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