Jan 7th, 2014 Dakar Rally Stage 3 Race Info & Discussion

Join in and discuss all the action from Stage 3 of the 2014 Dakar Rally. Robby Gordon had more vapor lock issues during stage 2, and now finds himself over 3h45m behind. The cars are scheduled to begin the 433km special section at 9:00am/et, Robby Gordon will be the 30th car off the line, beginning his stage at 9:52am/et.

2014 Stage 2 Photos

STAGE 3 TRACKING

STAGE 3: SAN RAFAEL > SAN JUAN

Connection 295km | Special Stage 301km | Total 596km

COURSE OVERVIEW

The competitors of the 2014 Dakar will experience their first taste of the mountains by passing through the Pre-Andes. The Aconcagua Volcano stands 6,962m high and will observe the progress of the vehicles, of which a part will rehearse their high mountain driving techniques. The motorcyclists will climb up 4,300 metres during their special stage, on a ridgeline where they will have the impression of towering over the whole of America! The descent will bring them back to the tough reality of the drivers of the Dakar, as they will only have finished the first part of this marathon stage. They will have to ensure the mechanics for their own vehicles at the isolated bivouac which has been set up for them.

The GREEN section of the route is the connection , the RED is the Special Section of the stage.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Z on January 7, 2014 at 5:46am

So true there. I remember one we had a radio that didn't work in the air but fine on the ground. Turned out to be an antenna that was affected by the lack of pressure at altitude.

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Permalink Reply by Gary Autox on January 7, 2014 at 9:07am

2011 Dakar Jonah Street " It was really hot, and my Yamaha’s fuel system vapor-locked. I was stuck for quite a while."

2012 Dakar Quin Cody " I was riding good then the bike started cutting out, I messed with it for a while then just rode with it cutting out finally it got so bad I stopped and took a pice of fuel line and bypassed the fuel pump and it corrected the problem but still lost a bunch of time."

They say KTM used "Race Fuel"
" The one team everybody is talking 'bout was using Aviation Gas, not Race Fuel. What is real difference or if it is allowed by Dakar regulations I do not know. But I do know, that bike did not really reacted any better, for that little I know, avgas is special high lead mixture designed for high altitude. It does smell different and we had it in our bike for one stage, as this one particular team ordered too much and simply showed up with one canister when I needed little fuel for our bike. "

From ADVRIDER- "As far as the FUEL goes... the rules state that in the first instance all competitors in principle are to fuel at commercial service stations where generally (up to 98 octane pump grade fuel will be available). The rules also state that no refueling from assistance vehicles is permitted on liason stages (even though assistance vehicles are allowed to provide competitors with service on those road sections which are common to the assistance service route). There is a second clause that DOES state that if suitable grade commercially available fuel is NOT readily available, that the FIM permits the use of AVGAS. The rules also provide (if there is no conveniently located commercially available fuel station on liason stages, or in proximity to the bivouac, that the ASO will arrange for drum fuel dumps (specified as lead free 95 octane) as is the case for the fuel CP's during special stages... where riders must refuel themselves...

So... if a clever factory team that knows the rulebook backwards, WANTS to go to the expense, one assumes it is possible for them to order a drum of avgas and have it made available at each of the ASO arranged fuel dumps. Given that they have paid/arranged for this, it is reasonable to assume the drums would be marked and that the officials at the fuel dump would be there to inform competitors that this fuel was reserved for that team. For the rest of the field it is the generic 95 octane stuff that is available. This is not in fact without precedent, similar arrangements have been in place for many years in the FIA auto division."