Motorsport News!
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I just went to the AIS yest! whooooo it was damn nice.Originally posted by Kuali Baba:The ceremony will be beamed live from Barcelona at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham, and Jenson Button will also be addressing visitors via satellite link.
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Here's a more realistic explanation for Half Schumacher's cautious driving:
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ROFL!!!
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FIRST PICTURES FROM BARCELONA!
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HA!!!!!! what did I tell you lot??? eh? eh? eh??????? The same two finished 1st and 2nd overall in the final standings of the 2005 Dakar rally!!!!!!Originally posted by EvilDead:I think it will be between Peterhansel and Alphand. One of those two will win the rally
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Peterhansel has just proved he is the king of the Dakar, winning 8 times in total. 6 victories on bikes and 2 in cars. what a performance!!!!!
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YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!Originally posted by EvilDead:HA!!!!!! what did I tell you lot??? eh? eh? eh??????? The same two finished 1st and 2nd overall in the final standings of the 2005 Dakar rally!!!!!!
*CELEBRATIONS*
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HOLY LOVELY OH MY GAWD OH MY!!!Originally posted by Kuali Baba:FIRST PICTURES FROM BARCELONA! -
Originally posted by Gedanken:Here's a more realistic explanation for Half Schumacher's cautious driving:
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Overall Standings, Paris-Dakar 2005, Cars
1 306 PETERHANSEL / COTTRET MITSUBISHI 52h 31' 39" 00' 00"
2 312 ALPHAND / PICARD MITSUBISHI 52h 58' 53" 27' 14"
3 310 KLEINSCHMIDT / PONS VOLKSWAGEN 55h 53' 39" 3h 22' 00"
4 314 DE VILLIERS / LURQUIN NISSAN 56h 34' 15" 4h 02' 36"
5 307 SABY / PERIN VOLKSWAGEN 61h 15' 53" 8h 44' 14"
6 320 ROMA / MAGNE MITSUBISHI 61h 51' 16" 9h 19' 37"
7 315 SOUSA / DELLI - ZOTTI NISSAN 62h 34' 08" 10h 02' 29"
8 305 MAGNALDI / FORTHOMME HONDA 63h 35' 23" 11h 03' 44"
9 325 MONTERDE / TORNABELL BMW 65h 59' 10" 13h 27' 31"
10 353 DALMAU / OLLER TOT CURSES 71h 48' 32" 19h 16' 53"
11 362 MITSUHASHI / PONCET NISSAN 72h 46' 54" 20h 15' 15"
12 317 GORDON / VON ZITZEWITZ VOLKSWAGEN 73h 35' 06" 21h 03' 27"
13 328 CHARBONNIER / ANTONIOLLI BOWLER 74h 34' 20" 22h 02' 41" 1h 00' 00"
14 346 SELGA / SALIDO BOWLER 75h 24' 35" 22h 52' 56"
15 427 LEYDS / VAANHOLT BOWLER 75h 27' 19" 22h 55' 40"
16 339 KOLBERG / ROLDAN MITSUBISHI 76h 40' 46" 24h 09' 07" 1h 25' 00"
17 326 PALIK / DARAZSI NISSAN 77h 24' 20" 24h 52' 41"
18 343 ASAGA / NUMATA TOYOTA 78h 16' 06" 25h 44' 27"
19 367 ZHOU / SCHURGER NISSAN 78h 25' 06" 25h 53' 27"
20 332 RATET / CATTARELLI TOYOTA 79h 12' 52" 26h 41' 13"
21 329 SZALAY / BUNKOCZI OPEL 79h 17' 20" 26h 45' 41"
22 334 BLAZQUEZ ROURA / SALVADOR IBANEZ NISSAN 81h 08' 29" 28h 36' 50"
23 413 LOCATELLI / HAQUETTE BOWLER 81h 24' 43" 28h 53' 04"
24 429 VAN VLIET / WAMS LAND-ROVER 81h 54' 06" 29h 22' 27" 45' 30"
25 370 VAN DEN BROECK / FERYN TOYOTA 82h 13' 39" 29h 42' 00" 1h 24' 00"
26 304 GUINOT / KROISS VOLKSWAGEN 82h 29' 40" 29h 58' 01" 1h 00' 00"
27 351 MICHIELS / DE CONINCK BOWLER 82h 38' 12" 30h 06' 33"
28 302 GACHE / GARCIN BUGGY 82h 48' 55" 30h 17' 16" 1h 00' 00"
29 333 CHABOT / PILLOT TOYOTA 83h 20' 33" 30h 48' 54" 1h 00' 00"
30 340 KATAYAMA / ARAKAWA TOYOTA 83h 20' 51" 30h 49' 12"
31 384 DE LORENZO / DE LORENZO NISSAN 84h 48' 12" 32h 16' 33"
32 369 FROMONT / LAMBERT BOWLER 85h 19' 06" 32h 47' 27" 03' 00"
33 363 KIS / CZEGLEDI NISSAN 85h 38' 08" 33h 06' 29" 7h 14' 00"
34 361 FOJ / PUJOLAR TOYOTA 86h 55' 37" 34h 23' 58"
35 435 REEDTZ-THOTT / PEDERSEN LAND-ROVER 87h 39' 10" 35h 07' 31"
36 403 SKOKS / PIKIS OSC 87h 44' 38" 35h 12' 59"
37 360 BERNARD / JONCHERE TOYOTA 87h 46' 20" 35h 14' 41"
38 401 AZIS / PRINCIS OSC 88h 15' 48" 35h 44' 09" 1h 13' 30"
39 311 VATANEN / SIVIERO NISSAN 88h 24' 37" 35h 52' 58" 10h 12' 00"
40 378 THOMASSE / CARPENTE MERCEDES 88h 28' 59" 35h 57' 20" 1h 00' 00"
41 330 ORIOLI / ROSOLEN ISUZU 88h 34' 59" 36h 03' 20" 1h 00' 00"
42 464 BILLAUT / MARTIN TOYOTA 88h 59' 55" 36h 28' 16"
43 415 RIVIERE / DELAMARE TOYOTA 89h 43' 16" 37h 11' 37"
44 366 XU / LURQUIN NISSAN 91h 02' 02" 38h 30' 23" 1h 00' 00"
45 402 SAUKANS / ZARINS OSC 91h 04' 34" 38h 32' 55" 2h 00' 00"
46 449 GREEN / HUZZEY LAND-ROVER 91h 31' 40" 39h 00' 01"
47 456 LASSOUED / CHEDLY TOYOTA 91h 54' 46" 39h 23' 07" 2h 18' 00"
48 418 SERVIA COSTA / PALACIOS BMW 92h 17' 38" 39h 45' 59" 2h 25' 00"
49 368 ROUSSELOT / DE WEINDEL NISSAN 92h 34' 20" 40h 02' 41" 1h 00' 00"
50 350 CHICHERIT / BAUMEL BOWLER 92h 41' 45" 40h 10' 06" 10h 00' 00"
51 364 SICRE / VIGNALI TOYOTA 93h 01' 32" 40h 29' 53"
52 342 WADE / DESMAZURE NISSAN 95h 45' 42" 43h 14' 03" 47' 00"
53 375 MEGUENI / MEGUENI MERCEDES 95h 46' 19" 43h 14' 40"
54 442 GOUTALAND / METGE TOYOTA 95h 49' 24" 43h 17' 45" 1h 00' 00"
55 331 HOUSIEAUX / FAGOT MITSUBISHI 96h 22' 29" 43h 50' 50" 11h 00' 00"
56 355 LU / PIO NISSAN 96h 30' 23" 43h 58' 44" 10h 00' 00"
57 345 LAVIEILLE / CHOUPIN NISSAN 96h 54' 48" 44h 23' 09" 2h 07' 00"
58 337 DEBANNE / JOINEAU TOYOTA 97h 36' 25" 45h 04' 46" 2h 00' 00"
59 419 NORMAND COURIVAUD / HUGOUNENQ TOYOTA 99h 23' 59" 46h 52' 20"
60 365 HOLOWCZYC / FORTIN MITSUBISHI 100h 57' 27" 48h 25' 48" 10h 00' 00"
61 388 MARQUES / RUI TOYOTA 105h 47' 23" 53h 15' 44" 11h 00' 00"
62 358 PLAZA PEREZ MERCEDES 107h 23' 29" 54h 51' 50" 1h 02' 00"
63 357 ARCIERO / VON DER DECKEN TOYOTA 109h 49' 26" 57h 17' 47" 10h 00' 00"
64 420 SKILTON / MILES KIA 111h 35' 32" 59h 03' 53" 2h 03' 00"
65 376 MORIN / DESNEUF MERCEDES 113h 28' 32" 60h 56' 53" 3h 07' 00"
66 448 LISZI / RACK MITSUBISHI 117h 42' 08" 65h 10' 29" 10h 00' 00"
67 450 LECHLEITER / HETT VOLKSWAGEN 118h 22' 06" 65h 50' 27" 12h 09' 00"
68 426 ROQUE / NAVARRO TOYOTA 118h 39' 43" 66h 08' 04" 2h 20' 00"
69 436 GINES JIMENEZ / SANTOS DEL POZO / PALOMAR FERNANDEZ TOYOTA 120h 06' 49" 67h 35' 10" 2h 00' 00"
70 352 LEAL DOS SANTOS / SILVA MITSUBISHI 120h 27' 35" 67h 55' 56" 3h 19' 00"
71 391 PICCINI / AIVAZIAN TOYOTA 127h 08' 27" 74h 36' 48" 19h 20' 00"
72 398 MARTINCEVIC / FRCKO TOYOTA 133h 10' 29" 80h 38' 50" 5h 08' 00"
73 424 GUYONNET-DUPERAT / VALION ISUZU 142h 25' 24" 89h 53' 45" 14h 00' 00"
74 425 RICHARD / MEYLEU ISUZU 144h 52' 48" 92h 21' 09" 14h 00' 00"
75 423 VILLECHALANE / COLLET ISUZU 152h 29' 14" 99h 57' 35" 14h 00' 00" -
Overall Standings, Paris-Dakar 2005, Bikes
1 002 DESPRES KTM 47h 27' 31" 00' 00" 09' 00"
2 006 COMA KTM 47h 36' 48" 09' 17"
3 003 COX KTM 47h 39' 00" 11' 29" 01' 00"
4 007 ESTEVE PUJOL KTM 47h 39' 22" 11' 51" 01' 00"
5 012 FRETIGNE YAMAHA 48h 01' 07" 33' 36" 13' 30"
6 023 CALDECOTT KTM 48h 15' 42" 48' 11" 17' 00"
7 025 DE AZEVEDO KTM 48h 55' 12" 1h 27' 41"
8 014 SALA KTM 49h 01' 24" 1h 33' 53" 05' 00"
9 022 BLAIS KTM 49h 20' 41" 1h 53' 10" 01' 00"
10 009 BRUCY KTM 50h 39' 10" 3h 11' 39" 10' 00"
11 011 DABROWSKI KTM 51h 19' 03" 3h 51' 32"
12 010 CZACHOR KTM 51h 44' 10" 4h 16' 39"
13 042 CASTEU KTM 52h 00' 32" 4h 33' 01"
14 026 DUCLOS KTM 52h 21' 25" 4h 53' 54" 02' 00"
15 015 GRAZIANI KTM 53h 23' 00" 5h 55' 29" 01' 00"
16 145 VERHOEVEN YAMAHA 54h 33' 32" 7h 06' 01" 20' 00"
17 017 HARDEN KTM 54h 48' 31" 7h 21' 00"
18 019 CHARBONNEL KTM 55h 13' 08" 7h 45' 37" 01' 00"
19 131 QUINONERO KTM 56h 30' 51" 9h 03' 20" 17' 00"
20 076 LEPAN KTM 56h 56' 41" 9h 29' 10" 01' 00"
21 031 BASTOUILH KTM 57h 00' 44" 9h 33' 13" 01' 00"
22 021 WALCH KTM 57h 12' 26" 9h 44' 55" 01' 00"
23 029 VERHOEF KTM 57h 38' 24" 10h 10' 53" 01' 00"
24 091 DE URIARTE KTM 58h 05' 33" 10h 38' 02"
25 144 BECKERS KTM 58h 49' 46" 11h 22' 15"
26 056 VIGNERON KTM 59h 00' 33" 11h 33' 02" 08' 00"
27 220 VARGA KTM 59h 27' 34" 12h 00' 03" 15' 30"
28 153 BROUWER YAMAHA 60h 04' 29" 12h 36' 58" 20' 30"
29 227 BORSI KTM 60h 17' 40" 12h 50' 09"
30 034 PIROUD KTM 60h 39' 15" 13h 11' 44"
31 207 COTTET YAMAHA 60h 59' 44" 13h 32' 13" 06' 00"
32 039 RIVERA KTM 61h 16' 10" 13h 48' 39" 12' 00"
33 195 CORINTI KTM 61h 32' 52" 14h 05' 21"
34 110 CARILLON KTM 61h 43' 43" 14h 16' 12"
35 058 MARCUSSON HONDA 62h 26' 44" 14h 59' 13"
36 130 GORRARA KTM 62h 42' 02" 15h 14' 31" 09' 00"
37 057 SCHWARZ KTM 63h 02' 06" 15h 34' 35"
38 098 KASTAN KTM 63h 31' 25" 16h 03' 54" 21' 00"
39 064 ROBIN KTM 64h 38' 27" 17h 10' 56"
40 197 WARRANT KTM 65h 45' 41" 18h 18' 10"
41 189 MESSIAEN KTM 66h 29' 22" 19h 01' 51"
42 037 POLLI KTM 67h 24' 27" 19h 56' 56"
43 027 JOBARD KTM 68h 20' 51" 20h 53' 20"
44 068 RAMOS MARTINEZ KTM 68h 27' 54" 21h 00' 23" 21' 00"
45 032 ALGAY KTM 69h 19' 13" 21h 51' 42" 11' 00"
46 140 CINIER KTM 69h 31' 50" 22h 04' 19"
47 181 BENETTI YAMAHA 70h 02' 33" 22h 35' 02"
48 053 EXTANCE HONDA 70h 34' 17" 23h 06' 46"
49 054 ORFANOS HONDA 71h 06' 01" 23h 38' 30"
50 198 HANSSON KTM 72h 03' 52" 24h 36' 21" 03' 00"
51 171 ISCLA GARCIA KTM 72h 21' 31" 24h 54' 00" 11' 00"
52 109 CISCAR CHISBERT KTM 72h 32' 50" 25h 05' 19" 14' 00"
53 084 GORLA YAMAHA 73h 22' 24" 25h 54' 53" 14' 30"
54 096 KARSMAKERS KTM 73h 31' 53" 26h 04' 22"
55 192 PASQUATO HONDA 73h 36' 26" 26h 08' 55"
56 059 MARCANT KTM 74h 10' 27" 26h 42' 56"
57 097 SNIJDERS KTM 74h 54' 44" 27h 27' 13"
58 222 FRANSSEN KTM 75h 23' 44" 27h 56' 13" 13' 30"
59 113 FLORIN KTM 75h 24' 46" 27h 57' 15" 38' 00"
60 082 DE BOIS YAMAHA 75h 25' 44" 27h 58' 13"
61 166 LORGE KTM 76h 14' 36" 28h 47' 05" 1h 00' 00"
62 013 PAGNON KTM 78h 58' 45" 31h 31' 14" 1h 00' 00"
63 028 RAMON YAMAHA 79h 01' 11" 31h 33' 40"
64 086 LUIK KTM 79h 14' 51" 31h 47' 20"
65 116 RAUSEO KTM 80h 41' 02" 33h 13' 31"
66 046 RAYMOND KTM 80h 56' 19" 33h 28' 48"
67 108 ASTORI KTM 80h 58' 23" 33h 30' 52"
68 173 LEVALLE KTM 82h 20' 09" 34h 52' 38"
69 224 PUERTAS HERRERA YAMAHA 82h 26' 11" 34h 58' 40"
70 129 NAVAL PEREZ KTM 82h 51' 19" 35h 23' 48"
71 061 DUBOIS KTM 82h 52' 07" 35h 24' 36" 1h 00' 00"
72 186 AUGUSTYNS KTM 83h 08' 02" 35h 40' 31"
73 185 BACKX KTM 83h 09' 06" 35h 41' 35"
74 071 DULLUM KTM 83h 18' 55" 35h 51' 24"
75 111 GARCIA CRUZ KTM 83h 30' 56" 36h 03' 25" 1h 00' 00"
76 151 BERGMAN KTM 83h 32' 07" 36h 04' 36" 1h 00' 00"
77 229 BERNARBEU YAMAHA 83h 47' 15" 36h 19' 44" 05' 00"
78 102 PAVEY BMW 85h 23' 25" 37h 55' 54" 1h 00' 00"
79 175 DUNCA KTM 86h 07' 12" 38h 39' 41" 1h 00' 00"
80 240 MOREL BOMBARDIER 86h 32' 22" 39h 04' 51"
81 194 NAGY KTM 86h 32' 47" 39h 05' 16" 10h 01' 00"
82 060 GALAMEZ KTM 86h 45' 20" 39h 17' 49" 1h 00' 00"
83 125 ARNOULT KTM 87h 36' 42" 40h 09' 11" 1h 00' 00"
84 126 LIBBRECHT KTM 87h 38' 49" 40h 11' 18" 1h 00' 00"
85 124 VINCENT KTM 87h 39' 11" 40h 11' 40" 1h 00' 00"
86 154 CABINI KTM 87h 48' 17" 40h 20' 46" 1h 00' 00"
87 078 DEVEDIJA BMW 88h 17' 50" 40h 50' 19"
88 092 DE BEAUFORT KTM 88h 26' 43" 40h 59' 12" 1h 00' 00"
89 150 VERZELETTI KTM 88h 47' 48" 41h 20' 17" 1h 00' 00"
90 087 RATSEPP KTM 90h 41' 28" 43h 13' 57" 1h 00' 00"
91 180 DE MEGNI YAMAHA 91h 52' 01" 44h 24' 30" 2h 05' 00"
92 045 PAYEN KTM 93h 06' 47" 45h 39' 16" 12h 05' 00"
93 095 DEFLANDRE KTM 93h 45' 16" 46h 17' 45" 1h 00' 00"
94 217 MOSSI KTM 94h 30' 36" 47h 03' 05" 2h 00' 00"
95 121 MOUGEOT KTM 98h 29' 33" 51h 02' 02" 1h 00' 00"
96 114 BECQUART KTM 99h 16' 46" 51h 49' 15" 10h 45' 00"
97 035 PUY KTM 100h 31' 11" 53h 03' 40" 11h 11' 30"
98 088 CUCURACHI KTM 101h 49' 50" 54h 22' 19" 3h 00' 00"
99 117 RAUSEO KTM 102h 02' 34" 54h 35' 03" 10h 05' 00"
100 209 ALON KTM 102h 59' 03" 55h 31' 32" 11h 00' 00"
101 168 HIGY YAMAHA 103h 21' 03" 55h 53' 32" 11h 30' 00"
102 156 AUSINA YAMAHA 104h 51' 25" 57h 23' 54" 11h 05' 00"
103 135 VION HONDA 105h 53' 26" 58h 25' 55" 10h 12' 00"
104 148 PERIGAUD KTM 107h 56' 10" 60h 28' 39" 11h 00' 00" -
Overall Standings, Paris-Dakar 2005, Trucks
1 520 KABIROV / BELYAEV / MOKEEV KAMAZ 71h 13' 55" 00' 00"
2 500 SUGAWARA / HAMURA HINO 77h 18' 14" 6h 04' 19"
3 503 VISMARA / BELLINA / CAMBIAGHI MERCEDES 78h 00' 23" 6h 46' 28"
4 521 DE ROOY / COLEBUNDERS / SMULDERS DAF 78h 51' 38" 7h 37' 43"
5 516 DE ROOIJ / COLSOUL / SLAATS DAF 80h 48' 34" 9h 34' 39"
6 501 SUGAWARA / SUZUKI HINO 82h 19' 28" 11h 05' 33"
7 522 ALEN / TONI / MICOZZI IVECO 82h 40' 14" 11h 26' 19"
8 542 SADLAUER / MAIER / MAYER MAN 83h 32' 45" 12h 18' 50"
9 543 REIF / PICHLBAUER / HUBER MAN 83h 48' 34" 12h 34' 39"
10 552 GOVAERE / GHERARDYN / DESPIEGELAERE GINAF 85h 17' 19" 14h 03' 24" 04' 00"
11 506 CHIONNI / FOGLIANI / PIANA DAIMLER 85h 26' 50" 14h 12' 55"
12 553 VILA / TORRALLARDONA / MANRESA MAN 87h 26' 00" 16h 12' 05" 04' 00"
13 509 TRUCCO / PATTONO MERCEDES 87h 37' 46" 16h 23' 51" 07' 00"
14 512 PANSERI / BREVI / MOR DAIMLER 89h 13' 42" 17h 59' 47"
15 527 JUVANTENY / CRIADO / PARDO MAN 91h 03' 08" 19h 49' 13" 02' 00"
16 567 DARAZSI / TAGAI / SZALAI MAN 92h 23' 43" 21h 09' 48"
17 508 PEZZOTTA / ZAMBETTI / MINELLI MERCEDES 93h 15' 07" 22h 01' 12" 1h 00' 00"
18 515 TCHAGIN / YAKUBOV / SAVOSTIN KAMAZ 93h 49' 06" 22h 35' 11" 10h 00' 00"
19 568 VANDEKERKHOVE / CALLAERT / DE LEEUW MAN 96h 00' 25" 24h 46' 30"
20 530 TIBAU / GOTLIB / JIMENEZ DAF 97h 06' 07" 25h 52' 12" 1h 00' 00"
21 526 DUISTERS / GEUSENS / EL BOUZIDI DAF 103h 57' 12" 32h 43' 17" 10h 00' 00"
22 538 LEIHENER / ZIEGLER / GOLDBERG MAN 105h 08' 07" 33h 54' 12" 1h 00' 00"
23 528 OLIVERAS / CAMPA LORENZO / TIEFENBACH MERCEDES 105h 10' 03" 33h 56' 08"
24 531 JACINTO / JACMART / PORELO RENAULT 106h 19' 00" 35h 05' 05" 1h 00' 00"
25 539 PUJOL / MANUEL RIMBAU / VERBIST MAN 107h 15' 02" 36h 01' 07"
26 535 BESNARD / MAUNEAU / MOQUET MERCEDES 109h 50' 20" 38h 36' 25" 1h 00' 00"
27 562 ESSERS / LAUWERS / MEULENBROEKS MAN 110h 27' 46" 39h 13' 51" 2h 00' 00"
28 566 CAPOFERRI / FUMAGALLI MAN 111h 12' 59" 39h 59' 04" 1h 00' 00"
29 557 CALZI / FIORI / HILL MAN 111h 16' 27" 40h 02' 32" 1h 00' 00"
30 551 SZALLER / FARKAS / KERESZTESI MERCEDES 112h 28' 38" 41h 14' 43" 5h 07' 00"
31 504 PRUNIER / RICHARD / DANIEL MERCEDES 116h 18' 56" 45h 05' 01" 11h 24' 00"
32 541 DEBEUGNY / LOUIN / DUNAND MERCEDES 126h 15' 54" 55h 01' 59" 11h 00' 00"
33 510 VIGNE / GIOZZET / PASCUTTI MERCEDES 134h 16' 42" 63h 02' 47" 12h 00' 00"
34 570 DARROUX / HUENS / CHAIX RENAULT 136h 07' 23" 64h 53' 28" 12h 00' 00"
35 561 DE MULDER / DAMEN / KOETSIER GINAF 136h 18' 56" 65h 05' 01" 8h 20' 00"
36 511 HOEBEKE / BEGUIN MERCEDES 149h 11' 38" 77h 57' 43" 14h 00' 00" -
First triumph for Despres, Peter doubles
On an edition deeply touched by the tragic deaths of Fabrizio Meoni and José Manuel Perez, the Telefonica Dakar 2005 crowned Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) in the bike race. On four wheels, Stephane Peterhansel (MIT) conquered his second consecutive victory while the truck race win remained in the hands of the Kamaz team but it was Firdaus Kabirov's turn to clinch the overall win.
It was a question of honour. At the start of the race in Barcelona, the KTM-Gauloises team promised they would place one of their 'blue bikes' on the highest step of the podium of the 27th Dakar, in memory of Richard Sainct three-time winner of the event who had tragically died three months earlier during the 'Pharaoh rally' in Egypt. On the Dakar, Cyril Despres and his mates were once again hit by the terrible death of Fabrizio Meoni during stage 11. Devastated, the KTM official riders had a new reason to carry on, despite the pain, "because that's what he would have wanted!"
In memory of Fabrizio and Richard, Despres won his first Dakar after having climbed on both the second (in 2003) and third steps (in 2004) of the podium. The Frenchman had started building his victory well before the tragedy that rocked the whole rally. On the eve of the crash, during the Atar-Atar special, Despres took command of the rally thanks to a 10' lead on Meoni who was to finish his last stage. Before that, the 31-year old rider based his race on regularity, making it nice and easily in the Top 5 of every single stage before entering Mauritania, his favourite playground. Once in the overall lead, Despres after his Atar masterpiece never let go of his advantage and controlled is closest rivals from then on. The only danger came from Marc Coma who had closed the gap on the leader to 3'16 because of a time penalty given to Despres for speeding. Not a problem for the talented Frenchman who left his main rival way behind on the penultimate stage to Dakar, clinching at the same time his second special success.
This 27th edition was a good opportunity to discover the talents that will certainly dominate the upcoming years alongside Cyril Despres. David Frétigné, 5th overall and the only biker to have won three specials this year (added to two second spots), will certainly be among those that will be the main actors of the Dakar in the upcoming years. Slightly older but just as talented, Australian Andy Caldecott (2 stage wins), as well as Spaniards Coma and Esteve, who are part of the 'Nani Roma generation' will certainly also be of those fighting for glory in the deserts of Africa. The 'First time' standings crowned two very impressive youngsters. Indeed, Americans Chris Blais (9th overall, and twice 3rd on specials) and Kellon Walch (22nd and winner of the last stage around the Lac Rose), from the KTM – Redbull team easily captured the first two spots, while David Casteu (13th overall) clinched the 'Marathon' class win. For her first experience on the Dakar, 21-year-old Ludivine Puy, was the better placed of the two remaining bikers in the women's standings.
Maybe his prestigious past as a biker made Stephane Peterhansel use the exact same strategy then Cyril Despres'. The only difference was that the titleholder started his real road to victory just before Mauritania. Chapter one happened on the stage between Smara-Zouerat, where he captured the overall command after grabbing the stage. Chapter two was for the following day on the now legendary Zouerat to Tichit stage where with his team mate Luc Alphand, 'Peter' hit even harder leaving his closest contender, Jutta Kleinschmidt, 40' adrift before the rest day.
If Mitsubishi made the difference there, the battle among the Japanese brand carried on until they left Mauritania with Luc Alphand challenging his compatriot and proving that he should be one to watch for a possible future victory. To ensure a 'Mitsu' win, they then took it steadily until the finish line, especially after the mechanical problems that shook Masuoka (who quit with a broken engine) and Mayer (who quit with electric problems).
Black Africa was therefore a good occasion for the others to fight it out for special wins, exactly like they had done during the European and Moroccan stages. American Robby Gordon, for his first Dakar, and Scotsman Colin McRae had shared the wins on the fast specials before Mauritania. The Volkswagen-Nissan duel had therefore stopped on a 2-2 draw! It then went Nissan's way thanks to Giniel De Villiers (twice) and Ari Vatanen's impressive stage from Kayes to Tambacounda. With Jutta Kleinschmidt's win in Kiffa and Bruno Saby's final success on the shores of the Lac Rose, the score ended 5-4Â… to Nissan, with Jutta Kleinschmidt however managing to keep her very important third spot on the podium.
In the T1 class that saw favourites Isabelle Patissier and Jean-Pierre Strugo quit the race early, Japan's Asaga (18th overall) topped the standings with a diesel vehicle, beating Pascal Thomasse in his normal fuel car (39th overall). The 'first time' standing was won by China's Yang Zhou, 10th overall.
Finally, the truck race rapidly lost its four-time Dakar winner Vladimir Tchaguine who was leading the race when he ran out of fuel during the Zouerat-Tichit stage forcing him to forget about his title ambitions. One of his closest rivals witnessed the same problem but still proved that he was a promising prospect, winning three consecutive stages. The rally however remained in the hands of the Kamaz team and it was Firdaus Kabirov's turn to conquer top spot. The Russian team continues its victorious run, equalling Tatra's record of 6 wins. -
Markku Alen 7th overall in the Truck category, very impressive
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Robby Gordon impressed me the most, I have to say he was my star of the Dakar.
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The impressive entry list of the Swedish Rally should provide the elements for an exciting race. As of now, the organisers have received the following driver registration:
At Citroën, Sebastien Loeb and Francois Duval will be driving the Xsara WRC of the championship winning team.
Peugeot will have two 307 WRCs for Marcus Gronholm and Markko Martin. Bozian Racing will also have a 307 WRC for Daniel Carlsson.
Subaru will count on Petter Solberg, Stephane Sarrazin and Chris Atkinson to drive the works team Impreza WRCs. However, the three men will not be the only ones driving Imprezas. Thomas Radstrom and Mark Higgins will also compete in Subarus.
Toni Gardemeister and Roman Kresta will be the works team drivers at Ford. The team will also have two Focus WRCs for Antony Warmbold and Henning Solberg.
Many private entries will compete at the wheel of a Ford Focus, including Jouni Ampuja, Kristian Sohlberg and former Subaru driver Mikko Hirvonen.
Skoda are hoping for a strong performance with their three drivers: Armin Schwarz, Janne Tuohino and Mattias Ekstrom.
Only Harri Rovanpera is confirmed at Mitsubishi. The name of the second driver has yet to be announced. Stig-Olov Walfridsson - former Group N winner of this event - will drive a privately entered Lancer WRC.
Also confirmed on the entry list is Jari-Matti Latvala. The young driver will compete at the wheel of a Toyota Corolla WRC. -
The boss of Formula One giant Ferrari on Monday presented Pope John Paul II with a miniature model of the famed F2004 car which German ace Michael Schumacher drove to a seventh world championship last year.
Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and team boss Jean Todt presented the model car to the pope during a private audience at the Vatican.
The minature red Ferrari, one-fifth the size of a normal Formula One car, was briefly displayed at the Clementine Hall where the audience took place. -
Now I know why Ferrari are so dominant......they are blessed by the Pope!
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*wonders what the Pope will do with his newly acquired toy car*
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Compare the tyres with those on the toy McLaren he's got to see if the Michelins are legal?Originally posted by EvilDead:*wonders what the Pope will do with his newly acquired toy car* -
Paul Stoddart opens his trap again...
Paul Stoddart has revealed that Ferrari are subsidised by the other nine teams on the grid.
The Minardi boss made the dramatic disclosure in an interview that appears in the latest edition of F1 Racing magazine.
Asked if he thought the FIA were under the thumb of Ferrari, Stoddart replied: “No, I just think... Ferrari are special.
“Why do all the other teams pay money, real chequebook-out money, to Ferrari every year, under the Concorde Agreement?
“Why on earth, with our tight finances, do Minardi, for example, have to pay money to Ferrari every year? There’s no good reason for it.
"The answer we’re given is that it’s ‘in recognition of their historical contribution to the sport’.”
Stoddart is also unhappy with the influence that the world champions have over the sportÂ’s regulations.
He said: “There’s talk, and I can’t say if it’s true or not, that the 2005 regulations were written by, among others, 18 people from Ferrari.
"It’s only paddock talk, of course – but then again, Max has openly conceded that the FIA consulted Ferrari, hasn’t he?
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Ferrari, particularly for Michael (Schumacher), but if a team are totally dominating the championship, and have done for years and will do so for the next few years, then it adds insult to injury to let these people write the rules because it’s fairly obvious they’ll write them in a way that suits them.
“Believe me, Ferrari are going to win the 2005 and 2006 titles, and there’s nothing any of us can do about it.” - ITV-F1.com -
Well, whaddaya know - Paul finally got off his obsession with Ron Dennis.
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lol yeahOriginally posted by Gedanken:Compare the tyres with those on the toy McLaren he's got to see if the Michelins are legal? -
Originally posted by Gedanken:Well, whaddaya know - Paul finally got off his obsession with Ron Dennis.
I think Ron is very much misunderstood, among all the team principals. -
He's actually a polite person according to what my mates tell me.