Jan 7th Dakar Rally Stage 5 Race Chat

Join us for the Dakar Rally on Jan 7, 2009 , right here and chat about the action during the 5th stage.Robby begins the day 9th overall in the standings.

Stage 5 - Wednesday, January 7
Neuquen > San Rafael
Connection: 173 km | Special: 506 km | Connection: 84 km | Total: 763 km
The major test of the first week of the race will perhaps be fought on the road to San Rafael. The long distance will oblige teams to remain concentrated at all times. The pilots will also be confronted with real dune passageways, including a range nearly twenty kilometers long. Long off-road stretches will alternate with much more technical sections in the track following the “rios”. The Cordillera can be seen on the horizon, but taking time to sightsee is out of the question: a too-late arrival at the bivouac always leaves a mark.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by IndyTim on January 7, 2009 at 9:58am

so it looks like Robby had a flat...and Sainz must be having a bigger issue than that....

Permalink Reply by rpmscott on January 7, 2009 at 10:00am

Big climb starts at 240km

Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on January 7, 2009 at 10:03am

I'm surprised that Sainz could be this far off with nothing mentioned on Breaking News....

Permalink Reply by BILL MORAN on January 7, 2009 at 10:04am

yes unless his tracking is f d up

hope that is not the case

Permalink Reply by BILL MORAN on January 7, 2009 at 10:05am

saintz is through 230

Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on January 7, 2009 at 10:06am

Just a timing glitch again. Sainz is through CP1 at 230km

Permalink Reply by dkam7 on January 7, 2009 at 10:06am

the tracker is a damn TEASE

Permalink Reply by BILL MORAN on January 7, 2009 at 10:06am

hopes shot again

Permalink Reply by Team Maranello on January 7, 2009 at 10:06am

He may have missed a way point as he is showing up at 230k, which means a serious penelty.

Permalink Reply by Scott C on January 7, 2009 at 10:08am

Maybe but RG has mysteriously disappeared from tracking also (yesterday)

Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on January 7, 2009 at 10:08am

I'm more inclined to believe that this is just a technical issue with the Dakar timing....face it, they had Spinelli listed as 20 minutes up on EVERYONE through 170km and then corrected it. It hasn't exactly been bullet proof so far. I have more faith in Sainz getting things right, than Dakar timing getting things right...

Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on January 7, 2009 at 10:13am

This is actually a great rally up front with Sainz, Peterhansel, Al Attiyah, Miller, De Villiers, etc...Alphand is fast...