TatraWorld.nl:
International Tatra Classic Vehicle News
Editor: Kees Smit

Loprais comments on stage 12

head

18.1.2014

NEWSLETTER INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM
Failure took the chance to podium away

In the penultimate stage of this year’s Dakar from El Salvador to La Serena it went about a lot – it was actually the last opportunity to get some time and improve the position in the overall ranking. But there was a bogey of possible loss in the dunes of the Atacama Desert…

Aleš Loprais wanted to fight, he rode well. In the first waypoint he was on the second place, in the second even on the first, in the third waypoint he dropped to the third place. In the fourth waypoint was the Queen 69 on the fourth place with the loss of a minute and 39 seconds. But waiting in the fifth waypoint to arrival of truck number 504 was unfortunately almost endless. It took more than two hours… Approximately in the half of the measured section has Aleš Loprais to stop due to a technical problem. The crew immediately went to work, even the crew of Jan Tománek helped. The cracked hose from the compressor but meant a lot of work for all. Correction on the track was successful, but unfortunately meant decline in the results.

12 lopi

Queen 69 finished the penultimate stage on the 32th place with the loss of nearly three hours on the winning de Rooy. In the overall ranking dropped Aleš Loprais from the fourth to the sixth place, he loses more than five hours to the leading Karginov and three and half hours to the third Nikolajev. Jan Tománek’s crew finished yesterday after the help with the loss of four and a quarter hours, they are on the 18th place in the overall ranking. Twelfth stage was unlucky even for motorcyclist David Pabiška, he finished on the 13th place, in the overall ranking he dropped from 16th to 18th place overall.

13th stage: La Serena – Valparaiso
The connecting section: 378 km / The special stage: 157 km
The last stage is here. It will be not any 600 km long journey, 157 measured km are waiting for the racers. They will go again to the south along the Pacific coast, this time there will be no sand on the track, only stones. Competitors will pass through the Las Chinchillas National park, but there will be no time to admire it. “The pride and joy of crossing the finish line is drawing closer, but caution is according to statistics necessary to the last moments,” warn the organizers. Hopefully everyone can do it and they all will be able to stand triumphantly on the podium in Valparaiso. They deserve admiration.

This year’s Dakar is very fickle. This message is written and send not easily. The more we appreciate that even in such moments we have a strong support of fans and partners, who all a little bit sad know that: “We go on!”

Ing. Lucie Houthoofdtová

Categorie: Racing & Rallying
January 18th, 2014

Stage 12: Loprais strikes trouble while de Rooij and Karginov battle for the overall lead.

Stage 12:  The site chosen in El Salvador at high altitude towers over the usual location of the bivouac in Copiapo. This position will ensure that the Camanchaca, the morning mist which sometimes hinders the start of the stages, will be avoided. Sand will be featured on the route again, in particular with a big string of dunes to be overcome at the end of the special stage. And if there are dunes, this automatically means that vehicles will be blocked in the sand! Therefore, in the categories where competitors are neck and neck, the leaders may put themselves at risk.

It is with a lead of 59″ over Gerard de Rooy that Andrey Karginov has reached the time check point at 229km. Third placed Eduard Nikolaev trails his team-mate by 2′12″.

Along with his team-mate Jan Tomanek, Ales Loprais (Tatra) has stopped after 168 km. He was in the leading group in the truck special. There is no info at the moment if he continued, but he is missing in the CP rankings.

In the end, de Rooij beated Karginov by just 31 seconds, though Karginov stays in the lead of the overall rankings.

Aleš Loprais řídí svůj kamion ve vítězné desáté etapě Rallye Dakar.Loprais’prAleš Loprais řídí svůj kamion ve vítězné desáté etapě Rallye Dakar.oblem was a cracked hAleš Loprais řídí svůj kamion ve vítězné desáté etapě Rallye Dakar.ose from the compressor.  He managed to repair his truck, but he lost about 2hrs 45 seconds. In the end, Loprais finished 32nd, loosing 2 hrs 53 min on stage winner de Rooi. He dropped in the overall rankings to 6th spot, 5 hrs 10 min after overall leader Karginov.


Categorie: Racing & Rallying
January 17th, 2014

The Bonver Dakar Projekt Tatras and stages 10 & 11

10th stage
The tenth stage of the famous Dakar rally were measured 684 km and ran along the shores of the Pacific Ocean from Iquique to Antofagasta city . A itself should be one of the toughest stages of this legendary desert competition.
Artur Ardavičus  completed the very demanding tenth stage in fourteenth place, loosing 1 hour , 22 minutes and 21 seconds on stage winner Loprais.
“Arthur went well . He’s a fighter . The front axle after his crash is in order, which is a small miracle.
Tomas Vratny , who started from 21st place , suffered from technical problems caused by the harsh impact on the Tatras in the previous stage. Technical problems caused by the harsh impact of the Tatras in the previous stage plagued the team boss Bonver Dakar Project.  Thomas Vratny’s white Tatra flipped also on its side and he finished tenth stage as the twenty-ninth with a loss of 3 hours , 50 minutes and 42 seconds on the fastest Ales Loprais .  ”This stage was suffering young Boháček ! Auto wound in the previous stage, unfortunately it did not work . The main resistance and stabilization. Sekal my steering wheel and almost impossible sort , which ” amazingly ” went down to the tenth , so many difficult stages. In the dunes we were quite unstable and in so-called rozbíječkách without effective shock it was like a wheelbarrow. And we lie down . On a completely meaningless dunce , though again it was not included hurry , we threw it to the side . Achjo ! A big thank you to the crew Jenda Tomanek . They are great guys , because they did not hesitate a moment to stop its Tatra and helped us . Otherwise, not to technical difficulties , the stage for the brand Tatra ideal. But it turned out that the morning of the ninth stage of the Tatra said more than we thought. We wish , let our auto mechanics manage to put together as much as possible . I do not want us overtook snails … “
The 11th stage
White Tatras Bonver Dakar -Project is the eleventh stage in the result table in a row. Kazakh Artur Ardavičus the sixteenth and Ostrava racer Thomas Vratny is right behind him . By the end of the Dakar remaining two stages. The biggest rally of the world and will soon be past.
In yesterday’s stage was faster Artur , finished fourteen ( +1:44 ” 31 ‘ ), Tomas finished twenty-one ( +2:48 ” 27 “). In the overall standings, they include the 16th and 17 place with loss of 14 hours , 47 minutes and 40 seconds , respectively . 15 hours , 35 minutes and 48 seconds at the fastest Karginov .
Thomas’ 815tka is unfortunately still in not in a good condition. The mechanics failed to solve the problems caused by rough Tuesday’s accident .
Thomas et al . do not give up, however. He believes that in the remaining two stages will be better . Racing team boss at the same time praised the amount of data that the team had collected during the competition . They will be important to adjust the car before the next competition.
Thomas Vratny at 11 stage : ” Yesterday’s special was incredibly long! In the car , unfortunately, we sat down with the car after the big blow two days ago does not work as before. It is hard and does not hold track. We changed the dampers , we took them from the Polish Tatras, but it did not help . Right from the start it was suffering. Every morning because we ” enjoyed ” . They just can not compete . On the seventh kilometer me and overtook the local milkman who accidentally discovered on the track ! And so we had a whole 605 competitive kilometers . Not to be but these worries , special stage would be for us as done . Long and heavy ideálka for Tatra . For me personally the longer štreka better. Artur goes very reasonable. The test various settings and even while driving. It remains angry front-wheel drive , but does not give up . Collect data , and we already know how to help us in debugging car before the next race . Just so we can not sweep those huge holes … But we’re going, we fight and we thank you for your support. “
And here we have the penultimate stage in El Salvador – La Serena . The stage is 350 km and one km less measured coupling section . All again expect a lot of sand, treacherous sand, which can still change anything . Before you do it but athletes sweep , I will shake the rocky roads , which in turn will really high – around 2,000 meters above sea level.
Unlike reciprocating Thomas Arthur Ardavičusovi the tenth stage managed . He and his crew took thirteenth place when the fastest lost 1 hour , 22 minutes and 21 seconds. Kazakhs now in the standings include 21st place with a total loss of 13 hours , 11 minutes and 4 seconds.
“Arthur went well . He’s a fighter . The front axle is the recent disaster in order, which is a small miracle. Perhaps lasts beyond. In the eleventh stage, we have a lot of dunes and to them it is not without front drive . Already we are left with only three stages. Keep your fingers crossed . We have to handle it , even if we have to take our Tatra back ! Thank you for your support, “says Thomas Cook.
Another challenging phase will be led out of the city Antofagasta to El Salvador. The crew team Bonver Dakar Project and other participants in the famous Dakar rally is waiting within the eleventh stage of the measured section , which will make your route and length of more than 600 km one of the hardest on this year’s Dakar Rally .

Categorie: Racing & Rallying
January 17th, 2014

Dakar Team Holland

Mechanic Jeffrey Schoo of the Dutch Tatra Phoenix,   missed the 10 th stage due to illness. He was checked at the hospital and was allowed to continue but to prevent any risks, Schoo went with the service truck where he got some rest. The two-men crew took it cautiously in the 10th stage, arriving at the finish after c14 hrs of dunes, where it took the stage winne 7hrs 40 min. In the 11th stage, Pierre Blom finished 20th, sandwiched by the Tatras of Jan Tomanek (19th) and  Tomas Vratny (21th)


Categorie: Racing & Rallying
January 17th, 2014

Loprais’ 11th stage

17.1.2014

NEWSLETTER INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM
After gold the fourth place and suffering in the eleventh stage

Yesterday three minutes after ten o’clock Aleš Loprais started the eleventh stage of the Dakar adventure. He ran to the special stage connecting the Chilean cities Antofagasta and El Salvador from the first position., because he won the previous stage. This time he was not so lucky by crossing the Atacama Desert. After 43 kilometres Karginov with Kamaz moved ahead. Aleš Loprais lost 24 seconds. After 200 kilometres were before the Queen 69 even de Rooy with Iveco and Nikolajev, another Kamaz driver. At that moment Aleš Loprais lost 7 minutes and 49 seconds. But he didn’t give up so far. On 329th kilometre after the start was Aleš Loprais on the third place, on the fourth was at that moment de Rooy, for whom it meant the loss of lead in the overall ranking. The new leader has become Karginov that inexorably headed towards the finish.

Dakar 2014 - stage 11 - Loprais

And Karginov with Kamaz actually won the eleventh stage of this Dakar adventure. He was in the finish in 6 hours and 22 minutes. Aleš Loprais struggled with the rigors of challenging track about 22 and a half minutes longer, he finished on the fourth place. He is on the same place in the overall ranking. The leader of the truck category has however changed – de Rooy was replaced by Karginov who is eight minutes before him. Aleš Loprais loses to the Russian leader nearly two hours and 18 minutes and 42 minutes to the third Nikolajev. And what about his closest pursuers Sotnikov and Šibalov? They are an hour behind.

“Today the hard stage. Suffering in the form of chattering teeth and wounds to the spine. The cabin has broken, tonight we have to weld it and tomorrow step on it,” told Aleš Loprais and it is clear to us that the guys of our team has experienced again a lot in the eleventh stage. And not only the 504 crew on the track, but also the mechanics and support after their return to the bivouac. The second team crew 519 drove yesterday on the 19th place and in the overall ranking they are on the beautiful 14th place just behind the Czech crew 519 Liaz.

12th stage: El Salvador – La Serena
The connecting section: 349 km / The special stage: 350 km
Before the racers there is the penultimate chance to do something with the result. But in fact the last, because in the Saturday’s final stage there will be difficult to catch up the time. The track will go again along the Pacific coast to the south and Atacama Desert with its many faces waits again to the racers. Organizers bring them again into the hills, the technique will again climb into the two kilometres high. After the middle of the 350 km long measured section the rocky terrain will be replaced by sand and it will accompany the racers to the finish. Everyone will have to compete again with long ranges of dunes near the Copiapó town. And the rest will come not straight after the finish – racers will have to travel an additional 350 km of connecting section to the bivouac in La Serena.

Ing. Lucie Houthoofdtová

Categorie: Racing & Rallying
January 17th, 2014

De Rooij looses overall 1st place to Karginov

Stage 11

In addition to the distance, here the competitors will be put to the test by all the difficulties offered by the Atacama Desert… and will have to display all the qualities required for off-road races. After the mine tracks and the many rivers to cross, they will have to distinguish themselves in the heart of the Dunes of Copiapo: the fastest motorcyclists are expected to spend seven hours behind the wheel. Needless to say that on this decisive day there will be no shortage of opportunities for competitors to make a winning comeback in the race. This will be the key stage of the 2014 edition.

Gerard De Rooy resisted, but nothing could stop the return of Andrey Karginov. This evening, the Kamaz driver leads the Dutchman’s Iveco by 7′56, producing the day’s major change in the general standings. However, with such a gap, the race is perhaps not yet finished! De Rooy is not the type of man to give up so easily. Behind the leading duo, Eduard Nikolaev (Kamaz) is already 1:35′51 from being able to join in this clash of the titans. By dint of perseverance, Ales Loprais has managed to put his Tatra into fourth place, 2:17′56 behind Karginov, with still almost an hour over his two main pursuers, Dmitry Sotnikov and Anton Shibalov…
Gerard De Rooy resisted, but nothing could stop the return of Andrey Karginov. This evening, the Kamaz driver leads the Dutchman’s Iveco by 7′56, producing the day’s major change in the general standings. However, with such a gap, the race is perhaps not yet finished! De Rooy is not the type of man to give up so easily. Behind the leading duo, Eduard Nikolaev (Kamaz) is already 1:35′51 from being able to join in this clash of the titans. By dint of perseverance, Ales Loprais has managed to put his Tatra into fourth place, 2:17′56 behind Karginov, with still almost an hour over his two main pursuers, Dmitry Sotnikov and Anton Shibalov…

PROVISIONAL STAGE RESULTS:

Pos. N° Nom Marque Temps écart Pénalité

506

KAMAZ

 06:22:32 - -

500

KAMAZ

 06:36:50 00:14:18 -

501

IVECO

 06:38:23 00:15:51 -

504

TATRA

 06:45:08 00:22:36 -

545

KAMAZ

 06:51:07 00:28:35 -

549

KAMAZ

 06:52:58 00:30:26 -

529

MAZ

 07:11:37 00:49:05 -

507

IVECO

 07:13:43 00:51:11 -

508

MAN

 07:31:44 01:09:12 -

510

MAN

 07:34:57 01:12:25 -

516

IVECO

 07:41:43 01:19:11 -

521

MAZ

 07:54:36 01:32:04 -

518

HINO

 07:57:43 01:35:11 -

511

GINAF

 08:08:24 01:45:52 -

OVERALL:

Pos. N° Nom Marque Temps écart Pénalité

506

KAMAZ

 06:22:32 - -

500

KAMAZ

 06:36:50 00:14:18 -

501

IVECO

 06:38:23 00:15:51 -

504

TATRA

 06:45:08 00:22:36 -

545

KAMAZ

 06:51:07 00:28:35 -

549

KAMAZ

 06:52:58 00:30:26 -

529

MAZ

 07:11:37 00:49:05 -

507

IVECO

 07:13:43 00:51:11 -

508

MAN

 07:31:44 01:09:12 -

510

MAN

 07:34:57 01:12:25 -

516

IVECO

 07:41:43 01:19:11 -

521

MAZ

 07:54:36 01:32:04 -

518

HINO

 07:57:43 01:35:11 -

511

GINAF

 08:08:24 01:45:52 -

Categorie: Racing & Rallying
January 16th, 2014

Karel Loprais comments on Ales Loprais’ stage victory

16.1.2014

NEWSLETTER INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM
Karel Loprais is happy about the golden tenth stage and adds that there is no recipe for fesh-fesh.

After yesterday’s tenth stage of the Dakar competition we again asked a few questions Karel Loprais, the truck legend, who won the toughest race in the world for six times.

Have you got a recipe for fesh-fesh?
There is no recipe.

Aleš probably found it, yesterday he won the stage.
That’s great! We were waiting for that for long time, finally it comes!

Aleš said that the team struggled with the truck settings. Is it really such  a big deal?
The guys scored with damping in Iquique.

Winning kicks them before the remaining stages up, isn’t it?
This is needed, it came at the right time.

We can expect the battle in the truck category. Three Kamaz trucks attack the leading de Rooy.
That’s good. Such a competition would be the spice of each race. It is good, that someone chases de Rooy.

And Aleš is behind the Kamaz on the fourth place. Are chances to podium still alive?
It will be very difficult till the end, but as long as it’s racing a chance is still here.

In Tuesday’s stage finished the third Nikolajev only one second earlier before the fourth Sotnikov. Was it the team strategy, or did they really fight?
I would say they fought. Competitors don’t see each other on the track and don’t know what are the differences between them. And when they race that way, difference can be even this small.

Kamaz is on the first places in the each stage. Aleš said that they are really good in difficult passages. What does make them so good?
At the start they have five cars, now they have to choose from too. One car quitted, but I am sure it is somewhere around and racers can take from it what they need.

In the tenth stage had problems even the Kamaz – Sotnikov had a great loss. Aleš could move to the fourth place because of it.
We do not know if it due to technical problems or he got stuck in dunes. They are really tricky for everyone.

Organizers prepared for the participants in the final stages the sand and fesh-fesh. How to ride in this tricky terrain?
On Dakar there has each stage its guile. There is not guaranteed recipe how to ride fesh-fesh. The surface is constantly changing, you don’t know, where are you going to. You have to pass it, otherwise it will not work. I hope that guys will not be fed with anyone on the track and I believe that they will race good again.

We remind our guessing competition with attractive prizes. Everything you need you can find here: http://www.loprais.cz/dakar/en/event

You can answer the question: “What will be the highest heart rate measured to co-pilot Serge Bruynkens within the last stage of the2014 Dakar Rally by the eVito active health system?” to Sunday January 19 to 12 pm. The results will be announced at a press conference after the return of the team which is planed on Tuesday January 21 in Prague. The winners will be awarded at the After Dakar Party and a meeting with fans, which will be held on Saturday February 1 in Troyer Hotel in Trojanovice. Program of the Saturday afternoon we will prepare in cooperation with our partners and we will of course keep you informed.

Don’t wait for anything, support our team and compete with us!

Ing. Lucie Houthoofdtová

Categorie: Racing & Rallying
January 16th, 2014

Yes, Loprais!

head

16.1.2014

NEWSLETTER INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM
The tenth stage brought gold!

At the beginning of the Dakar adventure dedicated Aleš Loprais the imaginary silver for the second place in the opening stage to his new-born son Alex. Then he added a bronze in the third stage from San Rafael to San Juan and the collection of successes is complete after yesterday, Aleš Loprais added the most valuable – the stage gold!

Aleš Loprais and the 504 crew were very successful in the 10th stage. Since start in Iquique the truck drove as fast as hell. On the first waypoint on 33rd km was Aleš losing five seconds to the leading Karginov, on the second was the Queen 69 a half a minute before Kamaz. But that wasn’t the end of pulling over. After 106 km on the 3rd waypoint lead Karginov again, but only one second ahead Aleš Loprais! The lead was bigger on the 4th waypoint, but on the sixth waypoint the order was how all Czech fans wanted to see – Loprais the first and Karginov a minute and 40 seconds after him. At the end of the first part of the special stage was Aleš Loprais the fastest again, a minute and 19 seconds ahead before his pursuers.

Dakar 2014 - Loprais - Stage 10

Organizers commented it on the official website briefly and clearly: “Yes, Loprais! The Czech pilot with Tatra was the fastest in the first part of the special stage!” Aleš Loprais didn’t leto go anyone in front of him in the second part of the special stage along the Pacific Ocean, which totally measured 631 km. Karginov from Kamaz reduced the loss gradually, but it was not enough. The comment of the organizers again: “Loprais breaks the ice – Aleš Loprais (Tatra) first wins on the 2014 Dakar!” Karginov lost 37 seconds after our crew. This is almost trivial difference on more than 600 km, but the victory is sweet. De Rooy was on the third place with the loss of six minutes and 10 seconds. Aleš Loprais won in the stage, which was not easy. Dunes, sand, fesh-fesh dust everywhere. Sotnikov from Kamaz would tell about it, which defended the fourth place in the overall ranking. But he got stuck yesterday, so now is Aleš Loprais on the fourth place in the overall ranking. He is losing about 33 minutes to the third Nikolajev. De Rooy is winning, Karginov is after yesterday 8 minutes after him.

“Winning the stage! Satisfaction after technical problems in previous days. We had only three clear stages without technical problems so far in this Dakar. The more I am pleased that we always conquered the podium,” happily evaluates Aleš Loprais the result and continues: “2014 Dakar is really hard… Until today we managed to find the optimum damper setting, which is essential to ride in Atacama Desert. On the one side the sixth victory of stage in the Dakar charged me extremely, but on the other hand however I am sorry that the setting we discovered now. However tomorrow may be all different. I really would like to get on the podium this year, but I realize how difficult it will be.”

Difficult terrain of yesterday’s stage gave a hard time to the other racers. In the car category quitted Spanish veteran Carlos Sainz, among motorcyclist Chilean racer Israel Esquerre. Conversely Czech biker David Pabiška, who finished on the 24th place yesterday, is on the seventeenth place in the overall ranking. Our team experienced a lot yesterday, ALeš Loprais describes it: “I have great pleasure of driving of our second crew, which leads our Princess through the Dakar adventures. They helped other Tatra from a competitive team today, which made me very happy too.” Crew number 519 finished the stage on the 23rd place with loss of 2:42:32 and is on the 16th place of the overall ranking.

11th stage: Antofagasta – El Salvador
The connecting section: 144 km / The special stage: 605 km
Organizers say about this stage that will be the key stage of the 2014 edition of Dakar. In addition to the distance, here the competitors will be put to the test by all the difficulties offered by the Atacama Desert… and will have to display all the qualities required for off-road races. After the mine tracks and the many rivers to cross, the competitors will have to distinguish themselves in the heart of the Dunes of Copiapo: the fastest motorcyclists are expected to spend seven hours behind the wheel. Needless to say that on this decisive day there will be no shortage of opportunities for competitors to make a winning comeback in the race.

The tenth stage brought another unbelievable moment for Aleš Loprais: “A nice visit and a great surprise honoured me in the bivouac. The unpleasant accident affected us in 2012, when we fought with de Rooy about the winning. The micro sleep subdued our co-pilot in the connecting section. It was a terrible moment and one local family cared of us immediately after the crash and spent the time until the arrival of the helicopter with us and kept us awake. And this family arrived today to greet us to the finish of stage. It means much to me… Greetings to all, who keep their finger crossed and push us forward to pursuit of the Dakar Bedouins! Thanks!”

Ing. Lucie Houthoofdtová

PR manager

M: +420 736 614 438 | E: lucie@starlingwood.com

www.loprais.cz

Categorie: Racing & Rallying
January 16th, 2014

Loprais doing well in Stage 10; eventually wins stage!

Andrey Karginov (Kamaz) and Aleš Loprais (Tatra) continue their no-holds-barred duel, with the Russian beating the Czech by a single second at the checkpoint. Gerard de Rooy lies in third place, 4′28″ back.
Andrey Karginov (Kamaz) and Aleš Loprais (Tatra) continue their no-holds-barred duel in Stage 10, with the Russian beating the Czech by a single second at the checkpoint. Gerard de Rooy lies in third place, 4′28″ back. At Cp 2, the two still are leading the rest, with Karginov being the faster one.
Eventually, stage 10 saw Czech Aleš Loprais open his 2014 account and, even more importantly, Andrey Karginov gain some more time on Gerard de Rooy. The Russian driver finished second, 37″ behind the Tatra but 5′33″ ahead of the Dutchman, who came in third. De Rooy, less at ease on sand than the Kamazes, goes into stage 11 on the dunes of Copiapó as the overall leader, but with just 7′55″ over Karginov. Tomorrow could be decisive.
Ales Loprais

Pos. N° Name Mark Time variation Penalty

504

TATRA

 05:10:55 - -

506

KAMAZ

 05:11:32 00:00:37 -

501

IVECO

 05:17:05 00:06:10 -

500

KAMAZ

 05:24:52 00:13:57 -

529

MAZ

 05:39:26 00:28:31 -

545

KAMAZ

 05:46:17 00:35:22 -

510

MAN

 06:04:35 00:53:40 -

520

IVECO

 06:06:20 00:55:25 -

507

IVECO

 06:06:44 00:55:49 -

511

GINAF

 06:14:22 01:03:27 -

516

IVECO

 06:28:20 01:17:25 -

549

KAMAZ

 06:31:46 01:20:51 -

542

TATRA

 06:33:16 01:22:21 -

521

MAZ

 06:33:46 01:22:51 -

525

LIAZ

 06:37:47 01:26:52 -

518

HINO

 06:38:26 01:27:31 -

509

GINAF

 06:56:57 01:46:02 -

508

MAN

 06:57:49 01:46:54 -

512

DAF

 07:09:49 01:58:54 00:40:00
OVERALL:

Pos. N° Name Mark Time variation Penalty

501

IVECO

 41:54:50 - -

506

KAMAZ

 42:02:45 00:07:55 00:00:30

500

KAMAZ

 43:24:18 01:29:28 00:05:00

504

TATRA

 43:58:05 02:03:15 -

549

KAMAZ

 44:42:38 02:47:48 -

507

IVECO

 45:58:44 04:03:54 00:15:00

545

KAMAZ

 46:04:53 04:10:03 01:00:00

510

MAN

 46:29:57 04:35:07 -

508

MAN

 47:08:46 05:13:56 -

509

GINAF

 47:31:39 05:36:49 -

516

IVECO

 47:54:13 05:59:23 -

520

IVECO

 48:38:57 06:44:07 01:00:00

529

MAZ

 49:30:57 07:36:07 -

518

HINO

 51:42:03 09:47:13 -

525

LIAZ

 51:44:26 09:49:36 -

512

DAF

 54:13:37 12:18:47 00:40:00

542

TATRA

 55:05:54 13:11:04 02:05:00

511

GINAF

 59:30:18 17:35:28 02:00:00

521

MAZ

 70:32:19 28:37:29 04:21:00

Categorie: Racing & Rallying
January 15th, 2014

Today’s Dakar truck models: COE’s or long noses?

15.1.2014

NEWSLETTER INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM
Tweaks and attractions of the Dakar

One Dakar, two different routes

For many years the organizers of the Dakar tried to adapt the route of stages to the South American open terrain to enable all racers from all categories to race the route that precise fits the particular category. This year they did it in the five stages, where they separated the route for bikes and quads on the one hand and cars and truck on the other hand. Overall the separated routes were comprised of approximately 2000 km, which account for about forty percent of this year’s Dakar.

From the sports point of view has this separation two advantages. Firstly it enable the organizers to introduce the motorcycles and quads to the technical and often very narrow passages, while it allow trucks and cars to “rush to the track” without threat of a collision with stray biker. Therefore, the question of security is another important advantage – the divided stages significantly eliminate risks by overtaking. This aspect was further strengthened by the fact that the separated kilometres were concentrated at the start of the Dakar Rally, where a large number of racers were on the track. Bikers and quads can enjoy really hard marathon stages, when they spent a night in inaccessible places in the camps which didn’t allow the team support. They had to rely only on their strength and possibly help of the other racers.

Clash of concepts: The classic versus the “long nose”

The Dakar truck competing offers one interesting comparison – in the race you can see cars of the different concepts. In addition to traditional trucks with a severed nose there are the trucks with the “long nose”, which usually boasts a large American trucks. The change is motivated by technical aspects: the long nose” has a cabin behind the front axle, thus offering a more comfortable riding position for the crew, especially appreciate by the jumps. Another advantage is the better weight distribution, which results in a much smoother and more stable behaviour in the track.

But is it enough to justify the extension of this type of car in the race?

“Not necessarily,” says Fabien Calvet, the director of the Dakar truck section. “Long nose, it is not only benefits,” says. “These cars are at least 300 kg heavier than conventional trucks, so they consume more fuel. In addition, the shape of the hood makes it difficult to view, which is a big handicap especially in the dunes,” says Calvet. Nevertheless the chief of the Dakar truck section recognizes that the appearance of these machines is exceptional. “And they are creating a stir, so they are guaranteed advertising tools! Finally, a new generation of concept such as Tatra Jamal, which is used by Aleš Loprais, offers a better compromise: cab moved back due to comfort, better weight distribution, but modest nose, not as Iveco of Gerard de Rooy, to avoid undue restriction of vision and weight gain. So what is the best? The answer will be known in the finish in Valparaiso,” says Fabien Calvet.

We believe that in today’s stage will Aleš Loprais with his “humble nose” and his 504 crew and teammates with the number of 519 go well again and it will be enough to a podium to be inmodest.

Ing. Lucie Houthoofdtová

Categorie: Racing & Rallying
January 15th, 2014
« Previous Page — Next Page »