Carlos Sainz and Timo Gottschalk set the standard on the first stage of the 2013 Dakar Rally, a short 15 km special in Peru (from Lima to Pisco) that eased the competitors into the two-week race, securing the lead in their Qatar Rally Team buggy yesterday.
The Spanish former World Rally Champion and his German co-driver finished the Dakar’s preview 24 seconds ahead of Argentinians Lucio Alvarez and Bernardo Graue in their Overdrive Hilux. Rounding out the rest of the top five were Frenchmen Guerlain Chicherit and Jean-Pierre Garcin in their SMG buggy, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Lucas Cruz in the other Qatar Rally Team buggy and Frenchmen Ronan Chabot and Gilles Pillot in their Toys Motors SMG. Only 36 seconds separated the top five at the end of the day
“This stage was just a short prologue, about 13 kilometres long. It was just a warm-up. Things get serious tomorrow,” Sainz said after the first stage.
South African Giniel de Villiers and German Dirk von Zitzewitz managed 9th behind defending champions Stephane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret, and are 1 minute 45 seconds off the lead in their South African-built Imperial Toyota Hilux. Their teammates, Duncan Vos and Rob Howie placed 13th, 2 minutes and 12 seconds off the pace.
“Going through the first stage is always nice because it means the race is finally underway! Especially for me, as I haven’t raced for a while. I’ve still got to take up some of my good habits again, and this special helped me with it, even when it came to navigating. So we’re delighted with our time and position and looking forward to tomorrow,” said a positive De Villiers.
Compatriots Johan van Staden and Mike Lawrenson placed 141st in their Pro Dakar McRae, 14 minutes 11 seconds behind Sainz. Sarel van Biljon placed 19th in the quad category, while Riaan van Niekerk and Brett Cummings places 15th and 103rd in the bike category respectively.
Today’s second stage is a loop around Pisco and, at 242 km long, is the first real test of the 2013 Dakar. You can watch a highlights package on SuperSport 2 at 22:00 every day till the end of the event on January 20.