Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel got off to a slow start on yesterday’s 11th Dakar stage, being once again outrun by American Robby Gordon’s Hummer during the stage. However, Gordon’s contention for the 2012 title seems to be at an end after mechanical problems set him back way over an hour. Peterhansel went on to win.
“We lost a CV joint boot and when we finished the first special we tried to change it. It took us too long to change and we missed the transfer section. At the end it was very bad and the silt is all inside the clutch, so we've lost the clutch and a wheel fell off… We've just had a bad day – we had a horrible day. The only way we'll win is if the other guys have problems,” admitted Gordon.
Gordon’s comedy of errors has left the door open for the reliable Minis of Peterhansel and Spaniard Joan “Nani” Roma to run away into the distance. The teammates are separated by only 22 minutes and with tough stages ahead, it is still too close to call.
“We didn't drive at a really fast pace, but we didn't have any technical or navigation problems, so it was a good special, but not very pleasant to drive because of the fesh-fesh. There wasn't much visibility, even opening the road, because the wind blew the dust up making it difficult to see,” said Peterhansel of the day’s special.
“I overtook Nani several kilometres from the finishing line: he got stuck on a little dune trying to avoid a biker, but he didn't even need to get out of the car to get going again. As for Gordon, whatever happens now, he will just be carrying on to Lima for the enjoyment. There's around twenty minutes between Nani and me now, with two big stages of dunes to come. We'll have to play it safe. It's always been like that. Each time I've won the car race, I always had a team-mate hot on my heels,” the nine-time champion stated.
South African Giniel de Villiers has now inherited third overall. While still an hour behind Peterhansel, de Villiers and German co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz have been holding on with consistent performances in the SA-built Hilux.
“It was a pretty tough stage, I must say. I've never seen so much fesh-fesh in my life. I think it must be really tricky if you're further back. I'm just happy we that we are running far up front, but it really wasn't easy. I didn't know about Gordon, but it's good news for us, though the main thing is we have to focus because there are two more difficult days left for us and the rally is not over yet,” de Villiers said.
As with yesterday, the competitors today face unfamiliar terrain in Peru and a field of dunes that continues for over 20 km.
