The 2013 Dakar ended with no big surprises

Unfortunately this Dakar was marked by the death of 3 people, 2 spectators and a pilot, but in the end there were no major surprises in relation to the winners.

The Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) won the Dakar for the fifth time in the bikes category, ahead of the Portuguese Ruben Faria (KTM), with just one win away of matching the also French Stéphane Peterhansel (Mini) record with six. Peterhansel that won for the fifth time in the cars category, has now 11 victories in total, with the South African Giniel de Villiers coming in second, and the Russian Novitskiy in third.

In the Quads the Argentinean Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) won with an advantage of almost two hours over the second place, Ignacio Casale (Chile), while in the truck category the winner was Pieter Versluis (Team Veka-MAN) followed by Ayrat Mardeev (Team Kamaz).

Three deaths in the Dakar in just two days

The Dakar Rally is, and will always be, a difficult race where the lives of those who participate in it will always be at risk, and including the lives of spectators. And yesterday those were the main victims, while today was a pilot.

Yesterday, a support vehicle from the team Race2Recovery crashed into one taxi killing two of its five passengers, while three members from the English team were injured. Overall 7 people were injured because another taxi, when trying to avoid crashing into the Race2Recovery Land Rover Defender and the other taxi, overturned several times.

Today, the French motorcycle rider Thomas Bourgin died after crashing into a police car on a link route traveling to the special stage. The police car was going in the opposite direction and the 25 year old pilot died immediately.

My condolences to the families and friends of the deceased.

Short News: Dakar 2013 started today! Stage 1 summary [Video]

Don't forget to watch the 2013 Rally Dakar that started in Lima, Peru, will go through Argentina, and ends in Chile. This year's edition has 459 vehicles, 189 motorcycles, 155 cars, 75 trucks and 40 ATVs (Quad bikes). You can watch the live timings on the official Rally Dakar website.

Overall standings

Bikes - Cars - Quads - Trucks

Short News: Race2Recovery - The team of injured soldiers are going to the Dakar Rally! [Video]

 

Race2Recovery is a team made up predominantly of wounded soldiers, and wants to be the first to complete the Dakar Rally in South America, which will start on January 5, 2013.

 

Their objective is to inspire those who are injured, disabled or facing adversity, and also to raise money for a charitable cause, the Tedworth House recovery centre in Wiltshire.

 

You probably remember them from the Top Gear (Series 17) episode on which Richard Hammond joined them telling us some of their stories and their dream, to take part in the Dakar Rally. Even Ben Collins, the ex-Stig, helped them.

 

They will race in a Qt Wildcat 500DKR with an 4.0litre Land Rover V8 petrol engine producing 275hp with the FIA restrictor and 406Nm (300ft/lbs) at 3850rpm.

I wish them good luck!

Source: race2recovery

 

Short News: Smart Feber Buggy will take part on 2013 Dakar [Video]

The smart can jump and with the number 382, the Spanish driver Jose Luis Alvarez, "JL", will race in the 2013 Dakar on a Smart Feber 1000 all alone and without assistance. At least that's what it says in the youtube page, on their website they tell another story, revealing a support team.

He will race in the Light Buggy class. The buggy specifications are not known and while the car doesn't seem to be incredibly fast, it will certainly be agile. Their objective? Just to finish. Oh, and they are looking for sponsors.

 

The rally will start (January 5) in Peru for the first time in its history, cross Argentina and will finish in Santiago de Chile on January 20th.

 

I wish them good luck.

Dakar Smart