2009 Dakar rally kicks off

nitrous · 3rd January 2009, 14:09

The greatest and arguably the toughest rally on the planet kicks off today.
And for the first time,it has moved from the african continent to south america.
Its run for 15 days from the 3rd to the 18th of January.
Dakar: homepage

doomsday · 3rd January 2009, 14:50

The one to watch out for this Dakar will be Mitsubishi, with their Dakar-special diesel-powered racing Lancer. I hope all their efforts including staying away from WRC pay off in this event.

MustangMan · 3rd January 2009, 15:18

OT: The old Dakar route is also being raced under the name Africa Rally. Jean-Louis Schlesser and his Schlesser Buggy are doing it.

vinayasurya · 3rd January 2009, 17:46

Any TV channels in India showing highlights of Rally ?

HappyWheels · 3rd January 2009, 18:57

Saw this news yesterday. Seems like they changed the venue due to few tourist that were killed in the last rally by some terrorists!

MustangMan · 3rd January 2009, 19:55

Star Sports will be showing it. Saw part of a preview show this morning.

SirAlec · 6th January 2009, 00:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyWheels

Saw this news yesterday. Seems like they changed the venue due to few tourist that were killed in the last rally by some terrorists!

Last rally never happened. ANd tourists were killed in an unrelated event on christmas eve of 2007. Though 5 tourists that were killed were all French.

Islamic terrorist related to AL queda, directly threatened against the Rally hence it was cancelled just a day before the event.

danlalan · 6th January 2009, 00:37

This is going to be a battle between Sainz and peterhansel i guess. In the cars category. WHY ISNT Masuoka there this time..???

nitrous · 8th January 2009, 18:26

French rider Terry found dead in Dakar

The deadly Dakar Rally was in mourning again yesterday with the news that French motorcyclist Pascal Terry had been found dead while competing in this year's race.

The 49-year-old Terry was found dead overnight after the fourth stage of the grueling spectacle. He had been missing since Sunday and the 2nd stage of the race between Santa Rosa and Puerto Madryn.

"The motorcyclist was found in an area that is very inaccessible with very dense vegetation 15 meters from his bike," organizers said in a statement. "He had taken off his helmet and had taken shelter with food and water next to him."

Terry had informed race control on Sunday that his Yamaha had run out of petrol at the 197-kilometer mark, but that he had procured some from another competitor.

Organizers later tried to contact him on two occasions, but were unable to get any response.

Search operations were launched the following day, but they were unable to locate Terry until early on yesterday morning when he was found dead by local police. An investigation was immediately opened to determine the cause of death.

"There was a breakdown in the organization's chain of communication between January 4 and 5," said race director Etienne Lavigne. "Information that he had deployed a distress signal reached Paris on January 4 and we here were not informed before the fifth."

Terry was the first fatality at this year's race which started in Buenos Aires on January 3 and finishes back in the Argentine capital on January 17, but according to an AFP count he is the 51st person involved with the event to die since its inception in 1979.

These include 19 competitors, 17 race personnel, including its founder Thierry Sabine in 1986, and at least 15 spectators or others who died due to the high-speed chase of cars.

Source: French rider Terry found dead in Dakar

narayan · 8th January 2009, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinayasurya

Any TV channels in India showing highlights of Rally ?

ESPN is showing some highlights - i think between 9-10 am every day

nitrous · 8th January 2009, 21:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by danlalan

This is going to be a battle between Sainz and peterhansel i guess. In the cars category. WHY ISNT Masuoka there this time..???

Actually, its Sainz vs 'that arab WRC dude'. Peterhansel has a lot to catch up(and hopefully will). Mitsubishi effed up with their new diesel engines. One of the 4 dakar cars blew an engine on the very first day.
Sainz rolled the car on stage 5 and one of the toughest bike riders (a rugby player) almost was in tears with the toughness of this year's event.
It was like an OTR event. Cars,trucks,buggies getting stuck left,right and centre.
Talking about buggies, current WTCC champion Yvan Muller retired from the event today as his buggy conked.

MustangMan · 9th January 2009, 12:52

'the arab WRC dude' - Is out!
Missed 9 way points- he has been excluded. So its the VWs!
btw his name is Nasser Al Attiyah.
The lancers can make up - apparently they are better at technical stages which are coming up.

yogisays0909 · 9th January 2009, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustangMan

Star Sports will be showing it. Saw part of a preview show this morning.

Its live on Super Sports 2 in saudi arabia.

MustangMan · 9th January 2009, 20:08

Alphand out! VWs 1-2-3

BIKeINSTEIN · 11th January 2009, 05:34

The same Dakar-special Touaregs this year??
They were not so happening for quite sometime in the earlier years.
1-2-3 due to performance or coz others are having a bad streak?

Have really missed out catching up on Dakar Rally past couple of years. :(

3rd January 2009, 14:09	#1
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	2009 Dakar rally kicks off The greatest and arguably the toughest rally on the planet kicks off today. And for the first time,it has moved from the african continent to south america. Its run for 15 days from the 3rd to the 18th of January. Dakar: homepage
	() Thanks

3rd January 2009, 14:50	#2
doomsday BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 420 Thanked: 11 Times	The one to watch out for this Dakar will be Mitsubishi, with their Dakar-special diesel-powered racing Lancer. I hope all their efforts including staying away from WRC pay off in this event.
	() Thanks

3rd January 2009, 15:18	#3
MustangMan BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Delhi/Indore Posts: 231 Thanked: 9 Times	OT: The old Dakar route is also being raced under the name Africa Rally. Jean-Louis Schlesser and his Schlesser Buggy are doing it.
	() Thanks

3rd January 2009, 17:46	#4
vinayasurya BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: BLR / KTM Posts: 67 Thanked: 13 Times	Any TV channels in India showing highlights of Rally ?
	() Thanks

3rd January 2009, 18:57	#5
HappyWheels Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4,106 Thanked: 537 Times	Saw this news yesterday. Seems like they changed the venue due to few tourist that were killed in the last rally by some terrorists!
	() Thanks

3rd January 2009, 19:55	#6
MustangMan BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Delhi/Indore Posts: 231 Thanked: 9 Times	Star Sports will be showing it. Saw part of a preview show this morning.
	() Thanks

6th January 2009, 00:37	#8
danlalan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: mumbai,JUHU Posts: 1,636 Thanked: 263 Times View My Garage	This is going to be a battle between Sainz and peterhansel i guess. In the cars category. WHY ISNT Masuoka there this time..???
	() Thanks

8th January 2009, 18:26	#9
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	First fatality of 2009 Dakar French rider Terry found dead in Dakar The deadly Dakar Rally was in mourning again yesterday with the news that French motorcyclist Pascal Terry had been found dead while competing in this year's race. The 49-year-old Terry was found dead overnight after the fourth stage of the grueling spectacle. He had been missing since Sunday and the 2nd stage of the race between Santa Rosa and Puerto Madryn. "The motorcyclist was found in an area that is very inaccessible with very dense vegetation 15 meters from his bike," organizers said in a statement. "He had taken off his helmet and had taken shelter with food and water next to him." Terry had informed race control on Sunday that his Yamaha had run out of petrol at the 197-kilometer mark, but that he had procured some from another competitor. Organizers later tried to contact him on two occasions, but were unable to get any response. Search operations were launched the following day, but they were unable to locate Terry until early on yesterday morning when he was found dead by local police. An investigation was immediately opened to determine the cause of death. "There was a breakdown in the organization's chain of communication between January 4 and 5," said race director Etienne Lavigne. "Information that he had deployed a distress signal reached Paris on January 4 and we here were not informed before the fifth." Terry was the first fatality at this year's race which started in Buenos Aires on January 3 and finishes back in the Argentine capital on January 17, but according to an AFP count he is the 51st person involved with the event to die since its inception in 1979. These include 19 competitors, 17 race personnel, including its founder Thierry Sabine in 1986, and at least 15 spectators or others who died due to the high-speed chase of cars. Source: French rider Terry found dead in Dakar
	() Thanks

9th January 2009, 12:52	#12
MustangMan BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Delhi/Indore Posts: 231 Thanked: 9 Times	'the arab WRC dude' - Is out! Missed 9 way points- he has been excluded. So its the VWs! btw his name is Nasser Al Attiyah. The lancers can make up - apparently they are better at technical stages which are coming up.
	() Thanks

9th January 2009, 20:08	#14
MustangMan BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Delhi/Indore Posts: 231 Thanked: 9 Times	Alphand out! VWs 1-2-3
	() Thanks

11th January 2009, 05:34	#15
BIKeINSTEIN BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 101 Thanked: Once	The same Dakar-special Touaregs this year?? They were not so happening for quite sometime in the earlier years. 1-2-3 due to performance or coz others are having a bad streak? Have really missed out catching up on Dakar Rally past couple of years. :(
	() Thanks