Black Friday Tonic: Top Drivers try to put Golf on two wheels, fail.

Racing on the Moon, Chased by Helicopters

That what the Dakar seems like. The race ended today without surprises, VW dominated the car class for the 12th time in 13 tries.

Quatari prince Nasser Al-Attiyah finally defeated El Matador, Carlos Sainz who was faster but ran into trouble and ended up third, behind the other VW of South African De Villiers. The BMW X3 challenger finished 4th with Stephane Peterhansel ruing some navigation errors and technical issues but vowing to be back in 2012.

Aprilia's challenge to Red Bull KTM's domination went nowhere and the Russians won the truck class again.

No big surprises but check out some spectacular pictures after the jump

01. Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (QAT/GER Volkswagen) 45hr 04min 07sec
02. Giniel de Villiers/Dirk Von Zitzewitz (RSA/GER/Volkswagen) at 49:41
03. Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (ESP/Volkswagen) 1hr 20min 38sec
04. Stephane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA/BMW) 1h 43:48
05. Krzysztof Holowczyc/Jean-Marc Fortin (POL/BEL/BMW) 4h 11:21
06. Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/RSA/Volkswagen) 4 h 54:40













(photos: ap, VW, forocoches.com)

El Matador

Spain made the world cup final, to celebrate let's have a look at this cool video from 1996. Carlos Sainz in some pre season testing in the Ford Escort RS. Check out the footwork. The car though sounds like a bucket of bolts falling down a flight of stairs.



end of post

El Matador Wins the Dakar!

"El Matador" Carlos Sainz finally added a Dakar win to his WRC championship today. Volkswagen sweeped the podium with Sainz ahead of UAE's Nasser Al-Attiyah and the USA's Mark Miller. VW main rival was BMW who would have been very close with Stephane Peterhansel but for his driveshaft failing and forcing the Frenchman to complete the stage, after a heroic repair, with just the front wheels driven.

The Bike race went to KTM's Cyril Despres ahead of Norwegian Pal Anders Ullevalseter (also KTM) and Chilean Francisco "Chaleco" Lopez Contardo (Aprilia).

Trucks were mostly a Russian affair with the win going to Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz), his ninth Dakar win. Two Argentinian brothers came in first and second in the quad category on Yamahas.








end of post

Scooby Snack: Tribute to the Subaru Impreza 555

The classic Group A car of McRae, Sainz and Vatanen, no music, no bull. Enjoy.


(Amjays)



Home

Ouch... Carlos Sainz crashes out of the Dakar

Carlos Sainz had been tearing up the Argentinian desert and had a healthy lead having won six stages when he drove off a small cliff! Check out the video at 5:15 when Sainz's team mate almost follows him into the ravine but turns at the last minute. No serious injuries, a broken arm for the navigator.

For our Spanish readers, a news report after the jump