Dakar caravan has arrived in Argentina
The Dakar caravan has arrived in Argentina
The massive 2010 Argentina-Chile Dakar caravan aboard the Grande Brazile has arrived at the Delta Dock complex at Lima, Argentina. In all 550 vehicles, for the most part entered in the rally, others to be used by the organisers and media, were unloaded this morning. They are now ready to take on the 32nd edition of the rally that will be run from January 1st through January 17th.
Yesterday, a team of specialists unloaded all the equipment that left Le Havre November 30th. The vehicles entered in the competition are now stationed in the parc ferme that they will leave to proceed to the technical and administrative verifications organised at the La Rural centre on December 29th,30th and 31st.
The field of vehicles entered will be completed by extra machines that will come to Argentina from various countries as well as those cars, bikes, quads and trucks from South American competitors; whose number has beaten all records this year.
The countdown has now begun for the thousands of Argentinean fans who can’t wait for the event to start. The rally will begin on January 1st with the presentation of the 184 motorcycles and quads, 136 cars and 52 trucks on the podium across from the Obelisk, on the 9th of July Avenue; one of Buenos Aires’ major boulevards.
2010 Course: the sand asset
The triptyque designed for the 2010 Dakar on the territories of Argentina and Chile promises to each kind of driver a sequence adapted to their qualities. The long stay in the Atacama Desert will be the climax of a 9000 kilometres loop through the continent. But the global balance of the course with varied difficulties force all to be consistent and careful to the end.
Act I: Finding the right tempo
Speaking a smooth entry would minimize the first three stages of the 2010 Dakar. The days will be long and not only in road section. On already very demanding specials, the most skilful competitors will find an opportunity to build on a position from which they will be able to capitalize. The hard soil will be favourable to technical exploits for its experts in trajectories. They will however have to rapidly switch talents to take on the first little dunes of white sand that they will meet close to Fiambala.
Act II: The dunes of Atacama!
Those who have already visited the Paso San Francisco in 2009 will this time go there using the opposite direction. The road heading there, known as one of the most beautiful in the world will serve as a break before taking on a detailed exploration of the Atacama Desert. The driest part of the world that the competitors will this time discover all the way to the city of Iquique, is the kingdom of dune crossings. During five stages, cut by a rest day at Antofagasta, the riders and crews will head to the north of Chile where off-road mileage will be considerable. It will be without doubt the toughest part of the rally, with reduced road sections: the stop watch will never stop.
Act III: The road of contrast
A change of landscape will occur every day from then on. While there is only one word to talk about sand, all types of soil will, on the other hand, be experienced on the return trip to Buenos Aires, from dunes to flat portions as well as sandy paths that go up the hills of the Mendoza Province. Added to the terrain, it is also visually that the contrasts will be stunning for the competitors as they leave the contours of the Andes Cordillera. On this last part, two stages are long and demanding enough to provoke significant gaps. At a time when bodies and machines will be tiring which should have an impact, the final positions will not be set.
DATE START FINISH Connection Special Connection TOTAL
01/01 Buenos Aires Colon 317 km 0 km 0 km 317 km
02/01 Colon Cordoba 349 km Bikes/Quads: 219 km 84 km 652 km
Cars/Trucks: 251 km 684 km
03/01 Cordoba La Rioja 56 km Bikes/Quads: 294 km 276 km 626 km
Cars/Trucks: 355 km 687 km
04/01 La Rioja Fiambala 259 km 182 km 0 km 441 km
05/01 Fiambala Copiaco 394 km 203 km 32 km 629 km
06/01 Copiapo Antofagasta 90 km 483 km 97 km 670 km
07/01 Antofagasta Iquique 180 km 418 km 0 km 598 km
08/01 Iquique Antofagasta 37 km 600 km 4 km 641 km
09/01 Rest day
10/01 Antofagasta Copiapo 96 km 472 km 0 km 568 km
11/01 Copiapo La Serena 0 km 338 km 209 km 547 km
12/01 La Serena Santiago 112 km 238 km 236 km 586 km
13/01 Santiago San Juan 211 km 220 km 3 km 434 km
14/01 San Juan San Rafael 23 km 476 km 297 km 796 km
15/01 San Rafael Santa Rosa 76 km 368 km 281 km 725 km
16/01 Santa Rosa Buenos Aires 166 km 206 km 335 km 707 km
TOTAL 2 366 km Bikes/Quads: 4 717 km 1 854 km 8 937 km
Cars/Trucks: 4 810 km 9 030 km
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Brian Gray has written 1095 stories on this site.
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MOTORCYCLE RACE – NOT JUST THE TWO OF THEM
It might well be a whole different ball game in the motorcycle race from now on… For many years, it was mostly an internal struggle between KTM riders, for a while split between the Spanish and French branches of the constructor. In the last few years, the contest was even down to an exciting showdown between Cyril Despres and Marc Coma, both solid pacesetters in the discipline. But the steady rise of under 450 cc machines led the organisers to opt for such bikes in the future, since they are now more reliable, reasonably cheaper, safer and far less thirsty than their more powerful counterparts. To make the shift easier towards an all-450cc field, top riders have been allowed to start this year with their 690 cc bikes, on condition that their engines be equipped by an air input restrictor to curb their power. It remains to be seen whether the two double winners can retain their hold on the race under the new rules. Holder Coma and his arch-rival Despres have amply proved that they are peerless in terms of physical condition, riding skills and navigation. They will again be the leading favourites at the start in Buenos Aires. But the new deal will probably boost the ambitions of their rivals.
Among them, David Fretigne will be closely watched after his third place last year on a 450 cc. This time around, he will fight on equal terms. The test will be one of mental strength and experience as well for the Yamaha rider. Apart from Yamaha and Honda, several constructors have already launched serious programs to develop 450 cc machines with the Dakar in mind. Italy’s Aprilia signed Francisco “Chaleco” Lopez, who is intent on taking his new colours to the very top. Chile’s Lopez will be on home ground in the Atacama desert. As for Frans Verhoeven, winner of two stages in 2009, he managed to convince BMW to return with a 450 cc. French team Sherco, who made a name for themselves on the enduro circuit, are eager to conquer the world of rally raid. They will count on David Casteu, 2nd in 2007 and 4th last year.
The revolution is underway!