2016 Dakar - Prelude To Stage 1

Once again, it's getting close to the start of greatest race in the world, the 2016 Dakar Rally! In the days leading up to the start of stage 1, there will be many events taking place. Robby Gordon is already in Argentina, has picked up the support vehicles and will retrieve the race cars from the airport today (Dec.30). The 2nd team driver, Sheldon Creed, will arrive today as well.

The #TeamSPEED compound will be setup, and work on the vehicles leading up to Scrutineering (Tech inspection). Scrutineering takes place from Dec. 31st to Jan 1st in Buenos Aires. On Jan 2nd, the teams will parade to the 'opening ceremonies ramp' and all the drivers will be introduced. There will be links to the "LIVE TV FEED" available on Jan. 2nd.

Also taking place on Jan. 2nd is "The 15 Minute Warmup" - Buenos Aires to Rosario. This will set the lineup for stage 1.

The competitors are timed over a distance which is long enough to separate them into a logical starting order for the next day, but not really long enough to talk about a first day of competition. The mini-special section and the liaison section to the light bivouac of Rosario should not cause any damage... unless drivers are really unlucky and/or reckless!

Stage 1 begins on Jan. 3rd, 2015. As always, we will have live raceday chat, stage threads, in-action updates, photos, videos, etc. The guys on the crew will also be sending us updates from the frontline.

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Permalink Reply by mj on January 3, 2016 at 12:03am

Dakar RallyRaid Race (@DakarRallyRaid)
1/2/16, 11:43 PM
Organizer decided to start first stage tomorrow in numeric order for cars and trucks - according to this post by... fb.me/7BKJs34Dy

Download the Twitter app

Sent from my iPad

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Permalink Reply by robbyfansinceimsa on January 3, 2016 at 12:23am

http://www.dw.com/en/dakar-rally-driver-rams-mini-cooper-into-crowd...

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Permalink Reply by Scott on January 3, 2016 at 1:16am

Several spectators were injured when Chinese racer Guo Meiling lost control over her Mini Cooper and veered off into a group of fans. At least three people are in critical condition, officials say.

Guo Meiling is the first Chinese woman to compete in the world famous rally.....figures lol

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on January 3, 2016 at 1:26am

First Chinese woman on the Dakar

In the last decade, the Dakar has welcomed numerous competitors from China and even a Chinese manufacturer with Great Wall, never however had a woman from the Asian state taken part in the rally. The 2016 edition will therefore be a first. A woman of challenges, Guo Meiling is a successful businesswoman back home and fell in love with cross-country events. She started competing on quads, finishing best lady of the Taklimakan Rally in China, back in 2011. A year later she went on to claim the race, still on an ATV. She eventually switched to cars two years ago taking part in the China Grand Rally. For her first Dakar, Guo will be competing with Min Liao, one of the most experienced co-drivers of China who already took part in two Dakar rallies, even finishing best rookie (18th, with Jihong Zhou) in 2012.

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Permalink Reply by yano on January 3, 2016 at 8:20am

Good spot for a lil jump ....
Toyotas look incredibly strong !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iwYJ960h0Y#t=450

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Permalink Reply by Michael Butler on January 3, 2016 at 9:11am

RG @ 2:30. Creed @ 6:25. Totally agree about the Toyotas. They were all flying through that section with big air. Sainz sans hood @0:30.

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Permalink Reply by Giggs on January 3, 2016 at 10:06am

The Peugeot's look like they are still prime for some endos before the Dakar is over.

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Permalink Reply by yano on January 3, 2016 at 10:46am

it's because of the army of cooling fans under the hood !!! lol

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on January 3, 2016 at 12:22pm

Official A.S.O Press Release
Accident on the prologue - Medical assessment
This morning, the hospital services communicated regarding the casualties from the accident which occurred yesterday, January 2nd, on the Dakar’s prologue special. Father and 10 year old son, who were taken to the Hospital Austral de Pilar, are stable and with a positive evolution. The state of a third patient who seemed to be stabilised last night, suddenly got worse during the night. He has been transferred to the Pergamino hospital (near Arrecifes). His state remains worrying. A patient has been transferred to the Allemana hospital in Buenos Aires to be operated on following a femur fracture. The other patients do not present any worsening in particular a pregnant woman who remains under simple observation. Some of them already went back to their homes.