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6.1.2013
NEWSLETTER INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM
A successful entering into the competition – TOP 3!
The first stage: Lima- Pisco | Weather: sunny, 24 degrees
Stage distance: 250 km | Connection distance: 13 km
Trough an acceptance got 183 motorcycles, 38 four-wheelers, 153 automobiles and
75 trucks. The whole amount of competitors stopped at number 449, which means the
amount of competitors raised since last years rally by six vehicles.
The first stage was meant as a worming-up. However, it did not go without problems. For example, Marcel Schoo with his crew in TATRA PHOENIX got stuck in sand dunes 4 km after start. He got stuck in bad accessible place and had to wait to the members of Ginaf Riwald Dakar Team, whose rescued them from the sand.
The competitors started their 8500 km long journey and it was only an introducing to the whole Dakar 2013 adventure. The 13 km long stage distance firstly tested the qualities of all the teams a divided the the competitors by their skill. The outstanding scenery of Pacific coast was an amazing background worthy the hardest competition in the world. The whole stage rarely lacked the superelevation. Even though the amount of kilometers was small, it did not mean the drivers did not race at all. Everyone wanted to show the best of themselves, plus it was an attractive stage for fans, so it was another reason why they tried to win.
On the ceremonial start the first racer was an winner from Dakar 2012, Gerard de
Rooy, followed by Eduard Nikolaev from Kamaz and Marcel van Vliet in Man.
And right after those there were our Aleš, Serge and Radim with Tatra Princess
69 and czech flag. But even after them there were the racers quite the same famous
and dangerous. From many we can name for example Hans Stacey in Ivec or Ayrat
Mardeev in Kamaz.
The comment of Aleš about the first stage:
“Very interesting sand beginning, the temperature was over 32 degrees.
Everyone started as good as possible, no-one wanted to lose, especially in
the first stage. Which means we may know about our first rivals. These are
Russians in Kazam and team De Rooy in Ivec.
I personally did a small schoolboy error on one dune. I was not able to shift.
Just before the embarkation we edited the ranking system to me it did not
hurt the hand just like it did in the past. This is a delicate thing, I change gears
during the stage a thousand times. However, I forgot and the new system
confused me. I estimate that we lost about 15 seconds but then we went on
the limit of the car and we caught a big part of the loss.
I could also test my backs during the stage. Tatra flew to a height of over two
meters at the most interesting place of the stage, the 15-meter jump. The
spine made a sound but everything holds and works as it is supposed to. It
was a great review to the introduction. However, we are at the very beginning
of the competition.”
We thank all the fans and greetings to the Czech Republic.
That the Number 503 must be count and that Aleš is a fighter, was confirmed in
the very first stage. From the start they were on a beautiful third spot with a loss of 25
seconds at the finish. The loss may be due to introduction of regulatory factors three times increased. Aleš was really fast. His time 9 minutes 11 seconds could meant the 36th place in the car category! It confirms that even with an older car, great experience and a big heart it’s possible to achieve the best results. But it is clear that it won’t be easy. Eight crews have a loss of less than a minute. As Karel Loprais emphasizes, they will need to be very lucky, race concentrated and a lot of effort from all.
The second stage is the sandy stage Pisco-Pisco, long 242 km with connecting section of 85 km. Hopefully our crew will succeed and that they will pass this stage without any problems.
Video of the road, acceptances, atmosphere of competition, first impressions including the interview with Aleš you can see here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT3TVzcBMm8&feature=youtu.be
Lucie Houthoofdtová
January 6th, 2013
January 6th, 2013
4.1.2013
NEWSLETTER INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM
The crew of Princess n. 503
The start of Dakar Rally is close, actually very close! The crew is in Lima and last preparations are underway. Before the outbreak of Rally we would like to remind and introduce, who will this year defend the colours of InstaForex Loprais Team.
The crew is composed of three professionals, competitors with experience with Dakar Rally. They are able to perform their tasks in demanding conditions as well as individually and as a team.
Favourite sentence of Aleš Loprais (10. 1. 1980) is: “What ever.” He uses it in rare moments when he’s a bit late with something not much important. Otherwise he prosecutes much. He has competition of all kinds from birth in the blood and it’s natural for him in all sectors of sport. Moreover, with the support of the whole family he became the manager of the team. Aleš Loprais has extensive experience with long-distance motoring competitions. This year it will be his seventh participation in the rally. In 2006 he served as a navigator in the crew of his uncle Karel Loprais, the six-time winner of Dakar Rally. But because of Karel Loprais’s health problems they didn’t complete the race. His debut in the position of the first driver in 2007 he finished (in the crew with Petr Gilar) on the third place in the truck category. In 2011 he won the Silk Way Rally. Last year he fought in Dakar Rally for victory but the team had an accident in the connecting section and had to resign. In the same year in the Silk Way Rally he didn’t defend victory. Despite the protest against an unclear situation, which apparently bereaved them of victory, Aleš Loprais with the crew finished on the fourth place. Aleš races in Tatra cars as well as his uncle. Last year he had an short episode in the Eurol Veka Racing Team and brand Man.
It has been only few months since Aleš Loprais started to share his cabin with Belgian front passenger Serge Bruynkens (18. 7. 1968). Their cooperation began after last year’s Silk Way Rally, where Aleš Loprais appeared as a guest in the InstaForex Eurol Veka Team. Serge Bruynkens started his career as a technic, later he was nominated as a racer to the Golden helmet. Serge has firstly tasted the atmosphere of Dakar Rally as a technic in 1998. Since 2009 he works as a front passenger in racing lorries. The experience, for example from Johan Elferink, Marcel Van Vliet or Peter Versluis’s crews may be useful for this year’s adventures in Aleš Loprais’s Tatra. We are all glad that he decided to join our team, basically because he is professional and has a lot to offer.
The mechanic Radim Pustějovský (21. 2. 1969) is definitely no beginner in the crew. His technical and navigational skills are gonna be very important in some difficult Dakar stages. He gained the knowledge of the terrain during his four years long mission as a rider in Mauretania. Radim is one of those brave men, who are not scared from any challenge. But he is also a good friend whom you can trust. Last year he was together with navigator Ota Měřinský part of the Boverdakar Team and it is quite good he is riding this year again as a member of 503 crew.
As you can see, the Princess 69 is in good hands.
Soon we will show you, how Dakar changes the health condition of the crew and how difficult is that for their physical condition. We are preparing a quiz for you. The question will be easy: how much weight do you think the crew will lose during Dakar? If you are interested in this information or you want just a tip it and win some cool prices, then you should watch our actualities and also the web.
We will appreciate your cheering with us!
Lucie Houthoofdtová
January 5th, 2013
2.1.2013
NEWSLETTER INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM
On 1 January at 1 P.M. the team began the journey heading firstly to Wien and then by airplane to Lima with layover in Madrid. Our vehicle, TATRA 815 2 ZO R45 12.400 4×4.1 Dakar 2013 – Princess 69, got the racing number 503.
Sweet festive atmosphere, gorgeous weather, heartfelt and warm new year wishes, last instructions, actual news, handing out phone SIM cards, sharing contacts… we are staying in touch and finally leaving. That is not only the farewell atmosphere, but also the atmosphere of hopes to happily meet each other shared by whole team and their families on todays meeting. Big surprise was seeing Ota Měřinský in the team clothes with bag. He walked in, smiled and told us, he is joining the crew! It was almost last minute switch with mechanic Luděk Podhorný, but everyone was excited about this coincidence. Thanks to that the crew was enriched not only with an experienced dakar driver, but also with an amazing person with extraordinarily good mood. When we took an interview with Ota, no one had any idea he is already on board.
Watch with us number 503 and read more on www.loprais.cz where its path is heading…
Lucie Houthoofdtová
January 5th, 2013
Our almost an year long period of preparation to the hardest worlds competition, Dakar 2013, is finally ending. The rally is hosted again in the South America and starts on 5th January, 2013, in the capital city of Peru. So it is the first time, the rally begins in the driest city in the world, Lima.
On Thursday, 27.12. had the team farewell meeting with partners, friends, fans and also with media. he only person missing was Aleš Loprais’s navigator- Belgian Serge Bruynkens, whom will join the crew on his way to Peru. The visitors included legends of nowadays rally, for example Karel Loprais or Ota Měřínský. You can watch the interview with Karel Loprais here: http://vimeo.com/56420062.
Interesting and new information is the close cooperation and partnership between Loprais team and GripTV. Together we will try to take care of medial support and also bringing the most actual news about happening on the track of dakar competition.
If you’re watching happening around the team carefully, you certainly know how unlucky was this year’s Dakar. Although is a new car Tatra Jamal “Queen 69” prepared, it is untried. So it was the right choice to send to Peru an older car, which almost everyone calls “Princess 69”. But as says Aleš himself: “What does not kill you makes you stronger.” Se everyone is not only motivated but also prepared to give the best performance. Every member of the team has his own task and sets high goals – fight the absolut world top for victory in this extremely tough competition.
InstaForex Loprais Team sends 11 members to the South America, which is how you can see not much in comparison with the other teams and giants as Kamaz or Team De Rooy. There are 75 trucks entering this year’s competition rally race, which promises huge competition. It can be expected a huge competition, different strategies and for you – fans does it mean that it will be plenty to watch.
We wish the whole crew and expedition beautiful New Year’s Eve in the family circle, nice flight and minimize unwanted surprises and technical problems. We are proud and grateful for partner support, fans, media attention and also for the competition and the implementation team’s done work.
Lucie Houthoofdtová/ Loprais Team
December 30th, 2012
As the clear winner of Dakar 2012, Gerard De Rooy has embraced the challenge of confirming the domination of Iveco trucks. The Dutch team will have to manage the new generation of Kamaz pilots, which still has little experience of major events.
After periods of optimism, progress, disappointments and low moral, before regaining control only to suffer injuries, the De Rooy Team finally reaped its rewards last January. The cherry on the cake was that Gerard De Rooy drove the winning truck, exactly 25 years after the one-off success achieved by his father Jan.
After the excitement had died down again, the team leader very quickly set himself an ambitious goal, which is sure to rally his team mates and inspire the entire Netherlands. If he pulls off this feat, it will signal the dawn of a new era and place Iveco trucks at the top of their field for many years to come.
In 2012, Hans Stacey (2007 winner) closely followed his captain and cousin onto the podium. This year, the team has set its sights on the three steps, where it also hopes to see former WRC world champion Miki Biasion.
The De Rooy Team would, of course, be overjoyed to see a turquoise trio in Santiago, regardless of the order in which the teams are ranked. When it comes to thwarting their victory, there is no indication that the most serious threat could be posed by the former masters in this category, who suffered a setback in the 2012 edition.
After the Chagin-Kabirov period, the new team has yet to live up to the promises made by Kamaz. For example, the heir apparent, Eduard Nikolaev, has stayed in the background since reaching 3rd place in 2011.
In addition, it was ultimately Artur Ardavichus, the Kazakh who joined the Russian camp, who came to stand on the podium in Lima, having possibly exhausted his potential for improvement. The blue trucks have lost some of their shine, but it is widely anticipated that Chagin’s pupils will achieve a return to form on the road to Santiago.
In this context, the example of Gerard De Rooy could inspire Ales Loprais, who has frequently been an outsider in recent editions. The Tatra driver has often shown that he can drive as fast as his rivals and could be one of the claimants to the title – if he can put an end to his consecutive run of four withdrawals!
Often clinching good results but rarely victorious, the Man trucks are now travelling to compete with their Dutch compatriots. Marcel Van Vliet (3rd in 2010) and Peter Versluis have their eyes on the podium and both have major strengths in their favour. Tickets will certainly come at a premium!
2012/12/18 | 18:03 CET | ARTICLE: MR/HS/ASO/WEYENS
As the clear winner of Dakar 2012, Gerard De Rooy has embraced the challenge of confirming the domination of Iveco trucks. The Dutch team will have to manage the new generation of Kamaz pilots, which still has little experience of major events.
After periods of optimism, progress, disappointments and low moral, before regaining control only to suffer injuries, the De Rooy Team finally reaped its rewards last January. The cherry on the cake was that Gerard De Rooy drove the winning truck, exactly 25 years after the one-off success achieved by his father Jan.
After the excitement had died down again, the team leader very quickly set himself an ambitious goal, which is sure to rally his team mates and inspire the entire Netherlands. If he pulls off this feat, it will signal the dawn of a new era and place Iveco trucks at the top of their field for many years to come.
In 2012, Hans Stacey (2007 winner) closely followed his captain and cousin onto the podium. This year, the team has set its sights on the three steps, where it also hopes to see former WRC world champion Miki Biasion.
The De Rooy Team would, of course, be overjoyed to see a turquoise trio in Santiago, regardless of the order in which the teams are ranked. When it comes to thwarting their victory, there is no indication that the most serious threat could be posed by the former masters in this category, who suffered a setback in the 2012 edition.
After the Chagin-Kabirov period, the new team has yet to live up to the promises made by Kamaz. For example, the heir apparent, Eduard Nikolaev, has stayed in the background since reaching 3rd place in 2011.
In addition, it was ultimately Artur Ardavichus, the Kazakh who joined the Russian camp, who came to stand on the podium in Lima, having possibly exhausted his potential for improvement. The blue trucks have lost some of their shine, but it is widely anticipated that Chagin’s pupils will achieve a return to form on the road to Santiago.
In this context, the example of Gerard De Rooy could inspire Ales Loprais, who has frequently been an outsider in recent editions. The Tatra driver has often shown that he can drive as fast as his rivals and could be one of the claimants to the title – if he can put an end to his consecutive run of four withdrawals!
Often clinching good results but rarely victorious, the Man trucks are now travelling to compete with their Dutch compatriots. Marcel Van Vliet (3rd in 2010) and Peter Versluis have their eyes on the podium and both have major strengths in their favour. Tickets will certainly come at a premium!
2012/12/18 | 18:03 CET | ARTICLE: MR/HS/ASO/WEYENS
http://www.marathonrally.com/news/dakar_rally_2013_the_race_in_the_trucks_iveco_kamaz_tatra_man_battle.22159.0.html
December 24th, 2012
Pickerings RTW is running a 2013 tour for fans to follow the Dakar Rally.
Our first tour will be include all the adventure and excitement of the Dakar using our 6X6 Tatra truck and detachable Polaris buggy we can get up close to the action whilst camping in comfort at the bivouacs. Driven by Jago who can offer first hand experience of competing in the rally with friends and teams competing in this years race you will get access and experience like no other tour.
Our first tour will be offered as cheap as we can for this year only, so if you are interested in watching the most exciting rally in the world get in touch for more information and details…..
Info:
http://twitter.com/Jago0/status/111844307543130112
http://www.theoverlander.org/my-wheels/trucks/tatra-815-2-6×6-expedition-truck.html
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pickerings-RTW-Tours-Dakar-Rally/257216860985947?sk=photos_stream
http://www.youtube.com/user/pickeringsrtw?gl=SN&feature=plcp&hl=fr
December 6th, 2012
December 6th, 2012
Loprais and other Tatras arrived in Le Havre to be shipped to Argentina
http://alexmiedema.wordpress.com/tag/tatra-815/
December 6th, 2012
At the Dutch pre-prologue of the Dakar 2013, we heard that Loprais will race a Tatra Jamal similar to the vehicle crashed by him in the January Dakar 2013. A fear to loose his main sponsors when continuing with VEKA-MAN and insurance money that finally has been paid to the Loprais team after the Dakar 2012 crash, were the reasons to change back. The VEKA team regrets the stepping down of the Czech driver who raced succesfully for them in this year’s Sil Way rally, finishing 4th after a long battle wit overall winner Nikulajev. But……………..WELCOME TO TATRA, ALES!
http://www.sport.cz/moto/rallye/clanek/436911-jedu-s-tatrou-do-limy-ji-poslu-letadlem-rozhodl-se-loprais.html
November 11th, 2012
