Dakar 2009 - Cars: Al-Attiyah pulls clear

Eurosport - Fri, 09 Jan 00:07:00 2009

Nasser Al-Attiyah increased his overall lead more than three-fold on day six of the Dakar Rally - but only after he missed a way point.

Rally Raid 2009 Dakar 2009 - Al Attiyah - 0

Al-Attiyah, who began the day 2 minutes 24 seconds ahead of Giniel de Villiers, completed the shortened 178 km run between San Rafael to Mendoza in 2 hours 7 minutes 26 seconds. That was good enough to allow the BMW man to stretch his overall lead to 7 minutes 31 seconds.

However, due to an overheating engine, he later admitted to having missed a way point and as such he may be penalised by the stewards.

"We missed a way point," he confirmed. "Due to the engine overheating, we couldn't go through the dunes. The temperature rose. The engine stopped and I preferred to choose a different route and avoid the dunes.

"When we push too hard, the engine temperature gets too high. It should have been repaired yesterday. If we can't repair this problem, then we won't be able to carry on. It is bad news, but we'll have to wait and see."

de Villiers was 'best of the rest', 5 minutes 7 seconds slower, while Mark Miller was third and Carlos Sainz fourth.

"It was quite tricky in the beginning in the dunes," said de Villiers. "A few times we had to turn around because we couldn't make it up some dunes. In some places it was very soft. If it hadn't rained last night, it would have been really, really tricky.

"The end of the stage was quite easy. In the Dakar, every day you have to finish the stage without problems and so far the Touareg is going very well. We've had no problems so far. There's still a week to go, so we need to keep it there in terms of our speed and reliability."

Mitsubishi's Stephane Peterhansel and Nani Roma completed the top six.

Luc Alphand meanwhile had to withdraw his Lancer after his co-driver, Gilles Picard fell ill at the 12 km mark. He was evacuated to Mendoza, although fortunately the doctors reported it was nothing serious.

AFP

Comment 1 - 15 of 35

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  1. Hi,
    Both me nad my wife have followed the Dakar for­ many years, we do have a question though. The support­ trucks always seem to get to the end of the stage and­ have time to set up for the arrival of the cars/bikes,­ with plenty of time to spare. How is this possible??­ Does it ever happen that the cars/bikes get to the end­ before the support trucks.
    Best wishes to Paul Green­ and Matthew Harrison. GET WELL SOON
    Al & Gill­ (Wiltshire UK)

    From allyb24a, on Tue 6 Jan 8:56PM

  2. Did not realise that Paul Green + co-driver were hurt­ badly. Hope they have a safe and speedy recovery. With­ the very best of wishes, Friend Derrick Eddie.

    From D EDDIE, on Tue 6 Jan 7:57PM

  3. Shocking to read about Paul Green. When the crash was­ shown on the TV it looked like they were out of the car­ and ok. Mary have you been able to contact RR in­ argentina to see if they can get any info out of ASO.

    From Fruit!, on Tue 6 Jan 7:46PM

  4. GOOD LUCK TO ALL THIS RALLY IS PURE EVIL ON THE CARS­ GET WELL SOON THE TWO BRITISH BOYS

    From Danny P, on Tue 6 Jan 7:22PM

  5. GOOD LUCK for all drivers - go Sainz go Miran­ Stanovnik go Kamaz

    From mitja, on Tue 6 Jan 7:16PM

  6. Hope these guys pull through.Medical care is very good­ worldwide these days so they should have a very good­ chance of a full recovery.All the very best to them and­ their families.

    From Perry Neeham, on Tue 6 Jan 6:32PM

  7. All the best to the injured Brits.

    From jonny slash, on Tue 6 Jan 6:14PM

  8. Go Robby Gordon ! :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Tue 6 Jan 3:52AM

  9. Mary,

    I was following your Dad's progress as the­ only Brit I could see running. It appears on the stage­ tracking on the Dakar website he did not make it to­ stage CP2. Why not try contacting AOS direct and they­ should be able to help you. I do hope that he and his­ co-driver are OK perhaps you could post this info on­ this forum.

    Regards

    From richard_bickley, on Mon 5 Jan 10:50PM

  10. I remember watching Carlos sainz in the GB rally years­ ago, he's class.

    From Harry, on Sun 4 Jan 8:01PM

  11. Help!!
    My farther, Paul Green car 419 crashed out­ yesterday. A doctor called at 6pm english time and we­ have heard nothing since!! you would think that someone­ would get hold of us and at least tell us what hospital­ he is in!!! if anyone can help us please let me know­ asap!!

    From Mary G, on Sun 4 Jan 11:45AM

  12. Yes, because SLOVENIA is small country, Miran Stanovnik­ isn't soo interesting, however It was 3rd but­ eurosport barely mention his name. I think if you are­ good on the race heavily like Dakar is, you need more­ respect!

    From mm_matej, on Sun 4 Jan 9:17AM

  13. A happy day for SLOVENIA! Miran Stanovnik came 3rd on­ motorcycle.
    Please read my first sentence again­ EUROSPORT2!!!. He is from SLOVENIA and not from­ Slovakia, as Eurosport2 said during the news. It may­ saound similar, but to us is as huge difference as­ United Kingdom mistaken for United Arab Emirates.

    From nezakorsic, on Sat 3 Jan 7:25PM

  14. A happy day for SLOVENIA! Miran Stanovnik came 3rd on­ motorcycle.
    Please read my first sentence again­ EUROSPORT2!!!. He is from SLOVENIA and not from­ Slovakia, as Eurosport2 said during the news. It may­ saound similar, but to us is as huge difference as­ United Kingdom mistaken for United Arab Emirates.

    From nezakorsic, on Sat 3 Jan 7:24PM

  15. Hi everybody,
    I hope that this year will be more Slovak­ names in article like this. GOOD LUCK for all drivers.

    From Miroslav K, on Sat 3 Jan 7:16PM
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