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 Team Maranello on January 7, 2009 at 10:38am

Dude, can we save this chatter for after the race. You are right, but most of us are now working with blind faith and hoping for devine intervention. Let us enjoy the moment till we really have to face reality. Maybe next week.

Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on January 7, 2009 at 10:38am

Well, no offense to anyone in particular here, but people in these threads start to flip out way too early regarding RG passing through checkpoints. Some people seem to have a real issue telling the difference between elapsed time for the stage and physical time/location on the course.

With that, the Hummer appears to be totally outclassed by the VWs, BMWs and Mitsubishi. Its about on par with the top Nissan. Running the Hummer at the Baja, was just accepting no chance whatsoever at being competative. The Baja1000...thats a fluke thing.

If the terrain change as they move towards Chile doesn't provide something to allow the Hummer to run with the top teams, then there isn't too much reason to think he will be able to pull out a stage win, or move up in the overall.

Permalink Reply by IndyTim on January 7, 2009 at 10:34am

Restictor plate...what a joke.......If Mitsubishi and BMW and Volks have issues with it...maybe they should try putting some Horsepower in their engines....(although...the way the Rally has gone...looks like they have more than enough)...

Permalink Reply by rpmscott on January 7, 2009 at 10:37am

Is the Restictor plate a new rule for this year? or did we have it last year.

Permalink Reply by Team Maranello on January 7, 2009 at 10:42am

Restrictor is not a plate. It is the size of the intake pipe and Robby has had to run in every year based on the rulers. it is not new.

Permalink Reply by wilks7 on January 7, 2009 at 10:39am

here we go see if RG made up some time

Permalink Reply by Matt on January 7, 2009 at 10:45am

To a point, yes. But does anyone truly know what RGs budget is?

How much of VWs and Mitsus budget goes towards developing diesel engines?

It is remarkable, but a bit perplexing that RG is not closer to the front in stages where the terrain should clearly favor the Hummer.

Permalink Reply by Keith on January 7, 2009 at 10:52am

Robby said VW's budget for DAKAR was between $80-100 Million. His words on the DAKAR preview video.

Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on January 7, 2009 at 10:58am

He's said that every year. That doesn't magically increase the value of Monsters sponsorship, just because VW is grossly outspending GM. In fact, it does the opposite. And how much of that VW budget is coming from Red Bull?

Permalink Reply by Kevin on January 7, 2009 at 10:44am

matt, Robby is doing a lot more for monstor and hummer then you give credit for. The crowds love the hummer and robbys driving style. Monstor knows this and its great marketing for them. No worries, this is what you get when you sponsor Robby. Just ask Jim Beam.

Permalink Reply by landshrk on January 7, 2009 at 10:45am

There is a video on SBS TV and the commentator makes a statement on Robby's Hummer as "One Hell Of A Machine". That is great publicity for the team as well as Hummer and also for the Monster Logo when shown!

Permalink Reply by Pope on January 7, 2009 at 10:49am

Yeah...because the are selling the hell out of hummer all over the world...The only sponsors that get any value out of this is Monster {which is not available internationally...yet} and Toyo.