Jan 11th 2010 Dakar Rally Stage 9 Race Info & Discussion

Join in and discuss all the action from Stage 9 of the 2010 Dakar Rally. Raceday chat will also be available throughout the entire 2010 Dakar Rally.

STAGE 9: Copiapo > La Serena

Connection 0 km | Special Stage 338 km | Connection 209 km | Total 547 km

Course Overview

The last day in the Atacama will be a good opportunity to make the best of sand and dunes: it is mainly on the first 180 kilometres that the difficulties will be gathered. The terrain being fairly open, the bikers will take off in lines of twenty. At this stage of the race, the leaders are clearly identified in each class but the podium can still change at any moment. In the same way, those who will have reached La Serena will certainly have covered the toughest part, technically speaking. A long distance will however have to still be covered with cold blood and taking it easily. For the amateurs, it is on these qualities that a Dakar can be played.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TOG on January 10, 2010 at 6:21pm

looks like a good first 178 KM for the Hummers

Permalink Reply by Scott B on January 10, 2010 at 6:34pm

VW's are soon going to start pushing each other.

Robby just needs to keep up a solid pace.

Permalink Reply by Capt. Allen "Pez Loco" on January 10, 2010 at 7:03pm

They're going to let their Navigation deside for themselves,they won't push to point of breaking. It will be who can pick the fastest line of Navigation or thru the specials to come.

Permalink Reply by Tooltime on January 10, 2010 at 7:48pm

all i can say is, we really could use some good fortune for the second half. i think we have really used up our mulligans.

Permalink Reply by Wheaton56 on January 10, 2010 at 9:20pm

i wish....but it is robby

Permalink Reply by Joey Griffin on January 10, 2010 at 7:59pm

First half looks good for the hummer, hummers love camel grass

Permalink Reply by Capt. Allen "Pez Loco" on January 10, 2010 at 9:43pm

Is that a used line? I thought I've heard that some where before.

Permalink Reply by laura_a_Robbyfan on January 10, 2010 at 10:03pm

I was alerted to this update from my favorite cow:
From Dakar.com
ETAPE 9: COPIAPO – LA SERENA

354 km, but with a timed section of only 170, are on the menu for the 9th stage. Indeed, alerted by the presence over the last few days of significant amounts of fog during the morning at Copiapo, the organisers have announced that they will be postponing the start times for the 9th special stage (11.00, instead of 7.15) and will shorten the route in order to avoid stragglers arriving too late at the bivouac in La Serena. However, this is nothing for the competitors to rejoice about, because as a result the 9th special will be a 100% sandy route, since it will wind its way through the ranges of dunes above Copiapo. Another original aspect of this 9th special stage, the last to be contested in the Atacama Desert, is a side-by-side start for the bikers, in groups of 20…

Permalink Reply by TOG on January 10, 2010 at 10:06pm

this is a good thing for RG , as well as you California residents ! Sleep in !!!

Permalink Reply by 1splat on January 10, 2010 at 10:39pm

Sounds good. You don't have to tell me twice to sleep in!! Now, if I could only get someone to work for me...hmmmm...Kids are going to school at 8, wife has her usual dog training most of the day...hmmm....looks like I am getting up at the normal time once again....
100% sand.....hopefully the air inflation system on the Toyos will not be an issue on this stage, right NIKAL?
GAS ON!

Permalink Reply by Kevin Meyer on January 11, 2010 at 12:24am