Robby Gordon Rebounds at Dakar in Stage 3

Robby Gordon Rebounds at Dakar in Stage 3

American Team Running Strong Again as the Rally Enters Chile

 

CHILICETO, Argentina (Jan. 6, 2015) – American driver Robby Gordon successfully rebounded from his mechanical failures on Monday in the 37th Dakar Rally with a solid 15th-place finish in his HST Gordini during Stage 3.

 

Starting 50th after a troublesome second stage, the Traxxas/Toyo Tires team was able to advance several positions before a punctured tire early in the run. After stopping for a new tire he was able to maneuver around several of the same cars he passed at the start, placing in the top 15 at the finish. 

 

Gordon’s time of 3 hours, 19 minutes and 28 seconds is impressive considering those that finished near Gordon’s starting spot ended up 30 to 45 minutes behind him. Driving aggressively and overtaking 35 cars on Tuesday’s 284-kilometer (176 miles) special puts him in much better company starting Wednesday’s stage, during which the field moves toward the Pacific Ocean and enters Chile for the first time.

 

Argentina’s Orlando Terranova won the stage in a time of 2 hours, 57 minutes and 28 seconds. South Africa’s Giniel De Villiers followed at 2 hours, 59 minutes and 22 seconds while Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Alrajhi ran the stage in 3 hours and 20 seconds to finish third. Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar finished fifth in the stage, but maintains the overall leader of the Rally.

 

Only 100 cars started Stage 3, meaning that 37 teams have already fallen from the race due primarily to Tuesday’s marathon stage, which took a tremendous toll on the competitors.

 

Wednesday’s fourth stage (315 kilometers/196 miles) will take drivers from Chilecito, Argentina, to Copiapó, Chile, and at times will reach elevations of 4,800 meters (15,748 feet), which will challenge not only the drivers, but the cars as well. High altitude mixed with the summer temperatures of the southern hemisphere and the Atacama Desert provides a challenging combination. The final 40 kilometers (25 miles) takes place through the giant sand dunes and basins of Copiapó. Teams will be fortunate to have a good run and finish the entire stage in daylight.

 

Follow the Dakar Rally through live timing and scoring as well as live updates at www.planetrobby.com. NBCSN is providing daily highlights from 4:30 to 5 p.m. ET. 

 

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jan vdV on January 7, 2015 at 9:25am
He's in competition mode rather then social mode I guess.
Permalink Reply by Jim Duszynski on January 6, 2015 at 9:31pm

Shake and bake Robby and Johnny!

Permalink Reply by Don Brown on January 6, 2015 at 9:44pm

Thanks TOG, We're movin' in the right direction.

Permalink Reply by brian b 26s on January 6, 2015 at 9:56pm

gas on
stage wins coming for RG and jc

Permalink Reply by m0ut33 on January 6, 2015 at 10:06pm

Is there a record for the most air time in a Dakar?

Has the A/C been working at all in these hot conditions?

Permalink Reply by ivanspeed on January 6, 2015 at 10:24pm

in AZ when its 118 AC systems in cars Do not work well at all, now racing in 120+ deg seems to me thats hard

Permalink Reply by pdxracefan on January 6, 2015 at 10:28pm

Yes. I would imagine some pretty trick AC system designs come to play for Dakar.

Permalink Reply by Tooltime on January 6, 2015 at 10:26pm

What time for the left coasters tomorrow?

Permalink Reply by Bruce Smith on January 6, 2015 at 10:32pm

WTFE. Guess what that is an acronym for? See you guys at 6:00 AM PST

Permalink Reply by pdxracefan on January 6, 2015 at 10:34pm

Long connection tomorrow starts at 6:14. First car starts SS at 14:34. Robby at 15:11. Local. So 9:34 and 10:11 PST.

Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on January 6, 2015 at 11:44pm

Yep
All day thru

Permalink Reply by natron008 on January 7, 2015 at 7:54am

Not sure I saw this posted anywhere else, Stage 3 vid... http://youtu.be/iT_W-tXNE8o

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