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17.1.2013
NEWSLETTER INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM
Interruption of 11th stage and charmed Fiambalá
It is unusual that nothing happens in Fiambalá, the 11th stage canceled after first CP due to weather and drivers safety.
Before yesterdays start of the eleventh stage we wrote about Fiambalá as unexpectable that nothing will happen there. Last year the competitors had problems with weather and same situation happened also this year. Due to floods on 69 km and also in Rio Grande after 85 km decided the organizers to close the whole track for the cars and trucks. Most of the motorcycles and four-wheelers already got trough those parts, so they could finish this magic stage.
Rainstorms and flooded river in the second part of the speed trial disallowed all the drivers to continue in the important fight. Speaking about our crew this situation did not make anyone happy, because of the staggering tendency to cut the time loss. The competitors stayed for a long right on the track and did not know what will happen, which part will be counted or if the stage will be completely canceled.The sport inspectors and chief decided, that at 13:50 local time was in the 11th stage speed trial stopped on the first checkpoint due to bad weather and drivers safety. Another decision was about all the vehicles, that did not pass the first checkpoint before the race got canceled;they got the time 1:12:25.
Gerard de Rooy won the first CP1 (his 24. stage victory in his career), in the second place was our 503 crew (56 seconds time difference) with fast Aleš driving. The Princess 69 showed once again, that she wants to fight between the best. Aleš knows, that if he wants to get better place, he has to drive fast, without any mistakes and on the edge. Yesterday he commented the stage shortly, but concisely: “Greetings to all the fans, whose head got confused because of the timekeeping. We are OK and we continue fighting. The results are counted from CP1, which means we were second in the stage. The hope is still alive, so once again… we keep fighting! Fiambalá was difficult, but beautiful stage. It is quite sad, that got canceled.”
After this shortened stage lead Dakar rally three Kamaz crews: Nikolaev, Mardeev, Karginov. After troubles right at the beginning of the stage got back in the fourth place Martion Kolomý with 58:05 losing to the first place, the fifth is still De Rooy with right one hour loss. In the sixth place there are drivers number 503, drivers with big heart and faith- Aleš, Radim and Serge, losing 1:31:10.
The 12th stage
Perfect race means “jackpot”
Thursday 17th January: Fiambalá – Copiapó
The connecting section: 396 km
The speed trial: 319 km
Now the Dakar competitors will cross the Ands from the east to the west trough the saint Francis gap and get back to the Atacama desert. There the organizers prepared many pitfalls and difficult tracks, seen only in Dakar rally. Most of the sand dunes wait in the middle of speed trial- their height will be extreme, so as the depth of the valleys between them. The rocky roads will not be less difficult, because even the fastest can get stuck in hear and lose a lot of time. Those, who cross the finish as the winners are definitely get better in the whole ranking.
Lets hope the luck will stay with the braves and better prepared.
Have a nice day,
Lucie Houthoofdtová
January 17th, 2013
Although the 11th special was again affected by the weather, American Kurt Caselli obtained a 2nd stage victory on the Dakar, whilst general standings leader Cyril Despres further increased his lead. In the car race, the special was stopped after only 53 km, following flash flooding that prevented the competitors from crossing a river on the route of the stage. This was a Godsend for Robby Gordon who picks up his 1st win on the Dakar 2013 as a result, whilst in the truck race De Rooy should be granted the victory. The situation has not led to any changes in the general standings, with Peterhansel and Nikolaev still leading their respective categories.
the problem was the same for the truck race, and so was the outcome. Gerard de Rooy achieved the best time at CP1, 56″ ahead of Alès Loprais. As a result, this will mean a 24th stage victory for the Dutchman on the Dakar and the 6th this year. In the general standings, Russian Eduard Nikolaev will still have a solid lead, but should now sit in front of his team-mate Ayrat Mardeev, who looks to have taken advantage of the problems encountered by Czech driver Martin Kolomy at the very beginning of the stage.
Although the 11th special was again affected by the weather, American Kurt Caselli obtained a 2nd stage victory on the Dakar, whilst general standings leader Cyril Despres further increased his lead. In the car race, the special was stopped after only 53 km, following flash flooding that prevented the competitors from crossing a river on the route of the stage. This was a Godsend for Robby Gordon who picks up his 1st win on the Dakar 2013 as a result, whilst in the truck race De Rooy should be granted the victory. The situation has not led to any changes in the general standings, with Peterhansel and Nikolaev still leading their respective categories.
Gerard de Rooy achieved the best time at CP1, 56″ ahead of Alès Loprais. As a result, this will mean a 24th stage victory for the Dutchman on the Dakar and the 6th this year. In the general standings, Russian Eduard Nikolaev will still have a solid lead, but should now sit in front of his team-mate Ayrat Mardeev, who looks to have taken advantage of the problems encountered by Czech driver Martin Kolomy at the very beginning of the stage.
January 16th, 2013
16.1.2013
NEWSLETTER INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM
Defect stopped the victory race in the tenth stage
The wind stages are changed by the fast ones, the tenth lead trough forrest areas into the desolated places. It was one of the stages with profile more like a classic rally than like a Dakar. The amount of the kilometres checked the drivers and also the technics.
The 503 guys with Princess 69 drove an incredible ride, they were one of the best right from the beginning. In the 7th and 8th checkpoint they were the first. In the section between 8th and 9th checkpoint the crew heard a shot and after 273 km of the speed trial our Tatra had to stop because of an defect. The guys did amazing work and after 8 minutes the wheel was changed. In the ninth checkpoint they were losing about 7 minutes (8th place) and in the tenth checkpoint they were losing about 8 minutes (6th place). Also another drivers had troubles and Aleš finished in the 7th place with losing 5 minutes 46 second to the stage winner, Russian Karginov. If the tear did not broke, Aleš would probably win the race, but if means nothing. Despite that the stage was beautiful and it was big race. De Rooy had once again some troubles, which means he is actually in the 5th place losing 1:20:06 and he is only one place above our 503 crew, that stay in the 6th place with losing 1:32:20 to the winner Nikolaev, the second Martin Kolomný (00:32:23) and the third Mardeev (00:34:10).
“Traditional mountain stage, that punished all the mistake, because there were no escape zones. Even in the rocks the drivers drifted. Everything worked fine. After the start we missed one turning, so I was a little nervous. I tried to ride as fast as possible. We were checking the stage from the leading point until one of the organisers car chased us. There are more than one on the track (medics, press,…), but they are always standing on the side. If the drive, then very slowly and move away right when they see you. Unfortunately this vehicle was an exception and did not want to move away. We drove behind him in a dust cloud for 7 km. And then the defect came. I do not remember I drove on something, I tried to stay on the track in the mist and as close to the vehicle as possible, to hear the horn. I heard a shot and already knew, what does it mean. I was tired and dehydrated, the stage was physically difficult. I drank 6 litres of the water and one litre of the energy drink 69, but it was not enough. Serge and Radim worked as a F1 mechanics.The whole changing was pretty fast. The wheel screws were extremely hot from the heat coming from the brakes.” Explains Aleš Loprais, what happened on the track.
Tired, however with smile, adds: “I really wanted to add sixth victory in the stage on the Dakar, but I still stay on the number 5. The sixth one is still waiting for us somewhere. I believe in that. We all fight!” There is nothing to add.
The 11th stage
The non yielding Fiambalá
Wednesday 16th January: La Rioja- Fiambalá
Motorbikes/ fourwheels
The connecting section: 262 km
The speed trial: 221 km
Cars/Trucks
The connecting section: 262 km
The speed trial: 219 km
It is very unusual, that nothing happens in Fiambalá. For example last year it was terrible weather – even though at the beginning the wet sand looked stabile, so the drivers could drive into the white fiambalá dunes, after a while the vehicles got stuck and the engines started to overheat because of the defeating extreme terrain.
It is typical, that those dangerous dunes are firstly looking amazing, but after a while they make some surprises for the drivers. In this years competition there are new dune fields on the track. So the third part of the Dakar has also sand stage, which is unusual and the drivers have to optimise their driving style. They have to pay maximal attention, because if the would not, they would probably make some navigation mistakes and it means time loss.
Lucie Houthoofdtová
January 16th, 2013
15.1.2013
NEWSLETTER INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM
The first stage victory!
“When we are happy we are always good, but when we are good we don’t need to be always happy.” Oscar Wilde
After unplanned but deserved rest the Dakar Rally swung to the second half. Different routes for trucks and other categories, challenging and fast ways, rocky and stony ground – this can describe the ninth stage. Organizers advised that stage and profile suit specialists in the most treacherous and challenging routes.
Therefore today we were really happy of our crew number 503 – Aleš, Radim and Serge. From the first meters it was clear that they are relaxed and they want to be with the Princess 69 among the first in the waypoints. Sovereign and still leading Dutchman De Rooy had technical problems with the turbocharger at the beginning of the stage, in the end he had problems with tire punctures. He had no luck and finished at the 59th place. In the overall standings he fell to fourth place with the loss of 59 minutes and 56 seconds to the leading Nikolaev on Kamaz. Aleš rode hard, he was at the second place all the time and pulled down the seconds. He avoided the mistakes and in the last measured section accelerated, which meant the first stage victory. After him arrived to the finish Dutch rider Versluis (Man) and Karginov (Kamaz). The stage mixed the order and handed out the other cards. The sixth place of InstaForex Loprais team did not unfortunately changed today after todays victory, the time loss to the winning Nikolaev is 1:31:37.
Pleased by todays result was also Karel Loprais, who predicts a lot of thing, knows the race pretty well and has it deeply rooted in his heart. He said today smiling: “It is obvious Aleš got into cutting the loss very responsibly. We can cheer him for that. Anyone can be unlucky in here, even the best one. For example take look at De Rooy, what happened to him. Alda proved, that he is one of the best drives in the world and that this years Dakar is definitely not finished yet. It will be interesting and we are still in the game.”
Aleš Loprais did not try to hide his satisfaction, happiness and he praised fast time trial: “The organizers prepared beautiful stage. It is more even beautiful because of the fact that we won. It looked more like a WRC trial. We drove trough many passages that we could possibly drifted trough, which is always fun in the truck. After we overtook De Rooy with technical troubles we were cleaning the track for the others. We were the first vehicle in the whole Dakar convoy, because rarely today the trucks started the first. In the finish we had to extinguish the bakes again, but it was totally worth it.“
We hope that all the fans supporting czech good results on Dakar 2013 have as huge smile as the whole crew because of yesterdays victory. Also with huge smile on her face wishes you good Tuesday
Lucie Houthoofdtová
January 15th, 2013
Unlike in other stages, the trucks started ahead of the cars and bikes, having a different route. 8 kilometres into today’s special, Gerard de Rooy’s Iveco was been hit by turbo problems , sending a “stop” signal. After 15 minutes, he was joined briefly by teammate Miki Biasion, who then left without his team leader. The Dutchman’s been working on his truck for over 15 minutes.
After 63 kilometres, Dutchman Pieter Versluis (Man) clocked the best time, 47″ faster than Aleš Loprais’ (Tatra) and 1′05″ quicker than Russian Andrey Karginov’s (Kamaz).
After 1h15min repairing, at 25 km of the stage, Gerard de Rooy kept moving on in fits and starts, stopping, starting and stopping again, only to get going a few minutes later. He lost 95 km, as the first truck already past km 120.
Dutchman Marcel van Vliet at the wheel of the no. 502 Man moved into second place, 45″ down on the reference time set by leader, teammate Pieter Versluis.
At km 179. Pieter Versluis was still firmly in command of the truck race, with a time of 1 h 58′33″, followed by Aleš Loprais’ Tatra (+1′00″), Andrey Karginov’s Kamaz (+1′12″), Marcel van Vliet’s Man (+1′46″) and Martin Kolomý’s Tatra (+2′44″).
Pieter Versluis’ Man stayed in command with 70 kilometres to go, followed by Aleš Loprais’ Tatra and Andrei Karginov’s Kamaz. Marcel van Vliet’s Man is currently in fourth place.
With the first fifteen drivers across the finish line, Aleš Loprais (Tatra) produced a late burst of speed to overtake Pieter Versluis (Man) and beat him by just seven seconds at the end of today’s 293 km special! Further down the stage classification, Andrey Karginov’s Kamaz finished 1′36″ back, followed by Martin Kolomý’s Tatra at 2′13″ and Marcel van Vliet’s Man at 2′36″.
While the leaders crossed the finish line, Gerard de Rooij still got 76 km to go. Eeventually Gerard de Rooy crossed the finish line, losing 1 h 25′38″ to stage leader Aleš Loprais.
Unlike in other stages, the trucks started ahead of the cars and bikes, having a different route. 8 kilometres into today’s special, Gerard de Rooy’s Iveco was been hit by turbo problems , sending a “stop” signal. After 15 minutes, he was joined briefly by teammate Miki Biasion, who then left without his team leader, the Dutchman’s been working on his truck for over 15 minutes.
After 63 kilometres, Dutchman Pieter Versluis (Man) clocked the best time, 47″ faster than Aleš Loprais’ (Tatra) and 1′05″ quicker than Russian Andrey Karginov’s (Kamaz).
After 1h15min repairing, at 25 km of the stage, Gerard de Rooy kept moving on in fits and starts, stopping, starting and stopping again, only to get going a few minutes later. He lost 95 km, as the first truck already past km 120.
Dutchman Marcel van Vliet at the wheel of the no. 502 Man moved into second place, 45″ down on the reference time set by leader, teammate Pieter Versluis.
At km 179. Pieter Versluis was still firmly in command of the truck race, with a time of 1 h 58′33″, followed by Aleš Loprais’ Tatra (+1′00″), Andrey Karginov’s Kamaz (+1′12″), Marcel van Vliet’s Man (+1′46″) and Martin Kolomý’s Tatra (+2′44″).
Pieter Versluis’ Man stayed in command with 70 kilometres to go, followed by Aleš Loprais’ Tatra and Andrei Karginov’s Kamaz. Marcel van Vliet’s Man is currently in fourth place.
With the first fifteen drivers across the finish line, Aleš Loprais (Tatra) produced a late burst of speed to overtake Pieter Versluis (Man) and beat him by just seven seconds at the end of today’s 293 km special! Further down the stage classification, Andrey Karginov’s Kamaz finished 1′36″ back, followed by Martin Kolomý’s Tatra at 2′13″ and Marcel van Vliet’s Man at 2′36″.
While the leaders crossed the finish line, Gerard de Rooij still got 76 km to go. Eeventually Gerard de Rooy crossed the finish line, losing 1 h 25′38″ to stage leader Aleš Loprais.
With Kolomy 4th and Vratny 6th, all three reaaining Tatras managed the top 10!
The Kamazs and Tatras now share the spoils at the top of the Truck overall. Russian Eduard Nikolaev (Kamaz) is in the lead with 17′56″ on Czech Martin Kolomý (Tatra) and 33′32″ on teammate Ayrat Mardeev. Gerard de Rooy (Iveco) is now fourth and has a deficit of 59′56″ to make up. Moreover, fifth-placed Andrey Karginov (Kamaz) is just five seconds behind him.
January 14th, 2013
13.1.2013
NEWSLETTER INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM
Unscheduled Saturday off instead of the eight stage. In the air were reports of protests.
Yesterday had trucks in the Dakar Rally unplanned day off. This happened due to the late arrival of accompanying cars after the seventh stage and also due to heavy rain. So yesterday they all moved through the connection section to the resting place of the day off, Tuvcman.
Storm broke out also around the contradictory statements of the Czech teams in the Dakar Rally. We hope that this “Czech” affair does not overshadow the great performance of all racers, which in this moment they fought and achieve.
In today’s video we bring the clarification of the situation. We hope that it contributes to calm the situation. You can find here the express of the race Commissioner, Aleš expression to the Sentinel rule and the situation on the track that led to the De Rooy’s protest.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKsIFgdAy30&feature=youtu.be
Our team won’t comment on this case, because we know how it can damage the good name of the Czech racers, annoy the fans and especially divert the attention from sport results.
Good luck on the track, on your travel and deserved Sunday rest for all!
Lucie Houthoofdtová
January 13th, 2013
NEWSLETTER INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM
Another beautiful stage race result and silver for the crew number 503 and for the Princess 69. The brakes was burning in the finish. Due to finishes was cancelled today stage!
From the morning the racers and their accompaniment went up to the Andes. Yesterday they got up to an altitude of almost 5000 meters above sea level, where id the Argentina’s highest mountain pass.
The measured section went a bit lower but the altitude was between 3400 and 3900 meters above sea level. It was a very fast race. In these altitudes is sparsely air, which means less power. Temperatures are around 15 degrees.
Sandy and stony ground with the Andes in the background that was beautiful scenery of the 220 km long speed trial. The stage was all the time headed by De Rooy from the Netherland. Right behind him was our crew number 503 – Aleš, Serge and Radim. In one of the most balanced stage won De Rooy but right behind him finished Aleš with the loss of only one minute and nine seconds. Members of the InstaForex Loprais Team went very quickly, even team in the background weren’t discouraged by the loss in the fifth stage (as you could see in the yesterday’s video). We drive our race and fight. On the third place were Karginov (Kamaz), Versluis (MAN) and Biasion (IVECO). In the overall ranking has nothing changes, we remain on the sixth place. Once again we reduced the time difference to the best driver and those minutes might be very useful in the future.
Unfortunately, the stage showed its worst side. The French motorcycle driver Thomas Bourgin with number 106 was hit by a car and this caused his death. During his way to the start of the speed trial, he had a collision with the police car driving in opposite way. He payed Dakar the highest possible price, lets honor his memory.
During the editing of this article we got hot news from our colleague and member of team, Martin Zemánek: “Todays stage was not difficult only for the drivers, but also for the accompaniment. The route was but, but full of rocks, so it was the biggest problem for the tiers, but only for them. For the assistance cars meant this crossing into bivouac about 700 km. We had to drive trough the Ands. We were at 4950 meters above sea level, which caused out troubles with breathing and also the engines of the automobiles and trucks had some troubles.The steep ascent and descent made many troubles to the assistance cars, because not only their engines got overheating, but also their breaks. This caused their late arrivals into the bivouac, where were the drivers waiting already. The next stage had to be canceled because of that, the cars are arriving even now, late in the night.”
So todays 8th stage Salta- San Miguel was canceled!
Mostly silent Radim Pustějovský did also comment the stage: ”You can only watch the tires and you will imagine, how difficult was this stage. Firstly it was pretty fast on the earth way and then it got all crazy.The brakes were on fire in the finnish. But you can not do anything if you try to win, it has to be done this way!”
“Today I wanted to try our limits, so I drove on the edge… We wanted to with the stage, and even though it did not happen, we gave everything into it. Sometimes the brakes and tires were on fire. I was frustrated from the time we lost, so I wanted to drive as good as possible.” tells us Aleš Loprais about yesterday. “At last we heard the 8th stage was canceled. It is not good for us, because we need to drive and cut the time difference. I am not the type waiting for the others mistakes. I want to fight until the end.”
You can watch about the big fight, the fires in hearts, but also on the tires on this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC2dNexbgKU
How did look the tires of the Princes 69 after the finish of the seventh stage you can see together with other photos here:
http://loprais.cz/dakar/cz/fotogalerie/39-dakar-2013
So we are waiting what today may bring. Watch us on our websites and facebook. We hope you will have nice rest Saturday
Lucie Houthoofdtová
January 12th, 2013
The stage victory has gone to Dutchman Gerard de Rooy, with a time of 2:02′21″, building on the first place obtained on the first half of the stage. In second place, Ales Loprais (Tatra) finished 1′09″ behind, but in front of Andrey Karginov’s Kamaz (1′38″ behind De Rooy) and Pieter Versluis (Man), 2′11” behind the Dutch Iveco driver. Miki Biasion completes the top 5, 2′21″ behind the stage leader, followed by Martin Kolomy (2′54″ behind De Rooy), Eduard Nikolaev and MArcel Van Vliet.
Even if the gaps are not dizzying between the leaders, Gerard De Rooy (Iveco) gave himself some room for manoeuvre today. He boasts a lead of 22′08″ over Eduard Nikolaev (Kamaz) and 41′25″ over Martin Kolomy (Tatra). 1:24′10″ behind the Dutchman, Andrey Karginov (Kamaz) is himself in front of Czech Tatra driver Ales Loprais (1:57′19″ behind the general standings leader).
The stage victory today has gone to Dutchman Gerard de Rooy, with a time of 2:02′21″, building on the first place obtained on the first half of the stage. In second place, Ales Loprais (Tatra) finished 1′09″ behind, but in front of Andrey Karginov’s Kamaz (1′38″ behind De Rooy) and Pieter Versluis (Man), 2′11” behind the Dutch Iveco driver. Miki Biasion completes the top 5, 2′21″ behind the stage leader, followed by Martin Kolomy (2′54″ behind De Rooy), Eduard Nikolaev and MArcel Van Vliet.
Even if the gaps are not dizzying between the leaders, Gerard De Rooy (Iveco) gave himself some room for manoeuvre today. He boasts a lead of 22′08″ over Eduard Nikolaev (Kamaz) and 41′25″ over Martin Kolomy (Tatra). 1:24′10″ behind the Dutchman, Andrey Karginov (Kamaz) is himself in front of Czech Tatra driver Ales Loprais (1:57′19″ behind the general standings leader).
January 11th, 2013
January 11th, 2013
January 11th, 2013
