Jan 8th, 2013 Dakar Rally Stage 4 Race Info & Discussion

Join in and discuss all the action from Stage 4 of the 2013 Dakar Rally. Robby Gordon finally gets a great starting position and will roll off 2nd after his runner-up finish in stage 3. Gordon will look to grab his first 2013 Stage win, as well as cut into his 46 minute overall deficit. The cars are slated to begin the special section of stage 4 at 7:32am/et and Robby Gordonwill begin his special section at 7:33am/et Raceday chat will be available throughout the entire 2013 Dakar Rally. Raceday chat now works on the Ipad & Iphone.

2013 Photos

STAGE 3 TRACKING

STAGE 4: NAZCA > AREQUIPA

Connection 429km | Special Stage 288km | Total 707km

COURSE OVERVIEW

It was a painful experience for many competitors when they discovered the area last year. At the beginning of the special stage, the dunes follow one another, each one like the next, strung out in a never-ending desert capable of unsettling the best technical specialists. In the opposite direction, Stéphane Peterhansel and “Nani” Roma, both of whom are masters when it comes to crossing dunes, each lost almost fifteen minutes there, and risked missing out on the first two places of the overall standings. And the level of difficulty will be even more demanding this year! During the crucial stage of the first week, the rally will be even tougher for motorcyclists: they will quail on a 2-km slope, of which the gradient will put the descent of Iquique on a par with a gentle children’s slide.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Robert Sandoval on January 8, 2013 at 3:15pm

wow only 20 mins between waypoints

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Permalink Reply by PathfinderCS on January 8, 2013 at 3:14pm

Through WP5, 05:02:49 behind

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Permalink Reply by yano on January 8, 2013 at 3:25pm

good god .... how behind is that !!!!????
tomorrow some will eat fech fech .....
he has a big mouth , a big right foot and most importantly a big heart !!!
gas on my man .... gas oooooonnnnnn .
well not too much tho ! =)

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Permalink Reply by Adam G on January 8, 2013 at 3:16pm

Robby thur wp5

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Permalink Reply by Lwyn Dahl on January 8, 2013 at 3:18pm

Saw this on Johnny's JCR facebook page read it it's about Robby & Kellon yesterday good carma:

Dakar Race report- Johnny Campbell stage 3. Pisco to Nazca.
Special 242km
Liaison 95km
Well things did not go as planned today. Early in the stage the bike developed a hesitation that seemed to be fuel system related. I wasn't sure so I did an examination on the bike and everything seemed to be in order. Pizzolito stopped but he could do nothing for me so I sent him on to follow Helder without me. The race continued without me as I would have to wait for a my extremely fast, bright orange, Support vehicle, piloted by none other than the fastest 4-wheel driver in the desert, Robby Gordon and his Navigator Kellon Walsh. They kindly dropped off a care package that would get me back going. After 20 or so more minutes of repair I was back underway.
But instead of racing with 2- wheel vehicles I found my self smack dab in the middle of the Garbage truck race!!
And man let me tell you, these guys are the gnarliest drivers out there. I couldn't believe what I saw happening right before my eyes. These guys drive trucks, BIG trucks over the softest, steepest dunes that makes me pucker on a bike! The course turned south to a quick beach run, where yes I popped a wheelie for my homies. :) Everything was all good till about 40km from the finish where the bike started acting up again. I nursed it in the rest of the way. I was sure glad to have made it to the bivouac where my HRC crew took quickly to the bike to get it dialed in for the next stage. Stage 4 will be 720km almost 500 miles!! Yikes!
Got go finish my road book!
Adios for now,
Love,
Johnny
Race on Guys, Lwyn

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Permalink Reply by roy on January 8, 2013 at 3:44pm

great comments. agree about the garbage truck drivers. those things are sooo gnarly!

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Permalink Reply by MerlotMax on January 8, 2013 at 3:20pm

He is through WP5 - still holding pretty steady.

82 315 GORDON (USA), WALCH (USA) HUMMER 007:23:44 05:02:49 00:00:00

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Permalink Reply by Dustin Leger on January 8, 2013 at 3:30pm

Steady as she goes. Very impressed at the rate they have been going since WP3. WP3-WP6 he lost 3 minutes. Wonder how much repairs they did. I found a French site that said they had a damaged shock. Wonder if they replaced that with the radiators?