Yesterday’s stage 8 of the South American Dakar held much bad luck for the previous stage winner Nasser Al-Attiyah, who suffered problems with his Hummer throughout the longest special of the event. Spaniard Joan “Nani” Roma and Frenchman Michel Périn put on a superb display of driving in the final sections to bring their Mini to the Antofagasta bivouac in first place.
Despite being out first, Al-Attiyah and co-driver Lucas Cruz had to deal with spare tyres falling off and alternator problems. Even though he finished fifth, all the stops cost the Qatari driver another eight minutes in the overall standings.
Fellow Hummer driver Robby Gordon seemed to have it all in the bag yesterday – the American looked sure to place first after what seemed like a flawless drive and self-admittedly wasn’t at it 100 per cent. But toward the end of the stage his rear-view mirror was filled with the sight of 9-time Dakar winner Stephane Peterhansel’s Mini. Gordon managed to keep that Mini at bay, but it was another Mini pilot that chased Gordon down.
Nani Roma enjoyed a reliable machine and was on the attack right from the start, putting in a strong performance to take the stage win by a mere five seconds.
“No mistakes were allowed in this fast stage. I pulled out all the stops in the second part. I drove like this for 15 to 20 kilometres and then there was a turn. Then it was back to putting the pedal on the metal for 20 more kilometres. I could not drive any better or go any faster. I am happy with this stage, happy with my victory. I am also happy because we did not have any mechanical problems,” Roma said.
South African Giniel de Villiers and co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz finished in sixth, a minute behind Al-Attiyah – successfully defending the fifth overall ranking.
“A lot of today's stage was straight. That kind of terrain is not exactly ideal for our Hilux. For that reason, I am hoping there will be a few more corners over the coming days. That would allow us to take advantage of our strengths,” de Villiers said.
Today’s stage 9 is split into two timed sections, the second bringing the competitors down a steep dune descent to the port city of Iquique.
Rankings overall
1. Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA/Mini) 20hr 04min 15sec
2. Robby Gordon/Johnny Campbell (USA/Hummer) at 7min 36sec
3. Krzysztof Holowczyc/Jean-Marc Fortin (POL/BEL/Mini) 7:48
4. Nani Roma/Michel Périn (ESP/FRA/Mini) 12:27
5. Giniel de Villiers/Dirk Von Zitzewitz (RSA/GER/Toyota) 37:45
6. Nasser Al-Attiyah/Lucas Cruz (QAT/ESP/Hummer) 45:25
7. Leonid Novitzkiy/Andreas Schulz (RUS/GER/Mini) 1hr 7min 33sec
8. Carlos Sousa/Jean-Pierre Garcin (POR/FRA/Great Wall) 1hr 23:29
9. Lucio Alvarez/Ronnie Graue (ARG/Toyota) 2hr 04:15
10. Erik Van Loon/Harmen Scholtalbers (NED/Mitsubishi) 2hr 19:04
11. Duncan Vos/Rob Howie (RSA) Toyota 2hr 23:28
20. Mark Corbett/Francois Jordaan (RSA) CR4 6hr 30:49