Dakar Rally SS1: Good start to the Dakar 2019

01/08/2019

• Przygonski pleased with third place

• Cars to start ahead of motorcycles tomorrow

The 2019 Dakar is finally underway for the X-raid MINI JCW Rally Team. Kuba Przygonski (POL) and Tom Colsoul (BEL) were the fastest of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally crews. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (KSA) and Timo Gottschalk (GER) were fifth. Joan Nani Roma and Alex Haro (both ESP) narrowly missed out on the top ten, finishing eleventh. They were followed home by Orlando Terranova and Bernardo Ronnie Graue (both ARG). Boris Garafulic (CHI) and Filipe Palmeiro (POR) are 16th after stage one.

The day started with the liaison stage to Pisco, where the crews were able to take a short break in the X-raid service park, before setting off on the 84-kilometre special stage around the bivouac. GPS problems in the motorcycle category meant that the cars were delayed by a little over one hour.

Reigning World Cup champions Przygonski and Colsoul were in good form and ended the opening day in third place. “It was only 80 kilometres, but they were pretty quick,” said the Pole. “As the sun was behind the clouds, you could hardly see whether the dunes were rising or falling. However, I am happy that we are up near the front and were able to keep pace with the “legends”. Having said that, the Dakar only really gets started tomorrow.”

Al-Rajhi and Gottschalk finished two places behind Przygonski. “We did not take any risks today,” explained the Saudi. “Unfortunately, we spent a lot of time stuck in Harry Hunt’s dust. That happened to us again later, behind another car. I am happy with fifth place, and the gap to the leaders is not too big.”

Roma and Haro are also satisfied with their eleventh place. “The first day is always a bit weird, especially when there is a delay. You are sat in the car with your helmet on, but nothing happens,” said Roma. “Today, I found it hard to judge wither I was quick or slow. However, we were soon able to reel in Loeb – that surprised me a bit. Starting a bit further down the field tomorrow is not a bad thing.”

Terranova and Graue also came through the stage without any major problems and decided to start the Dakar without putting any pressure on themselves. “We took a steady approach,” said Terranova. “I round my rhythm on the final 30 kilometres. We will now make the final adjustments to the seat position. I am happy and looking forward to tomorrow.”

The start of tomorrow’s 342-kilometre special stage has a slightly different look to it: instead of the motorcycles, it will be the cars that open the route. This will make navigation significantly more difficult, as the co-drivers will not be able to follow the tracks left by the bikers.

Dakar Rally Result SS1:
1. Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) / Mathieu Baumel (FRA) Toyota – 1h 1m 41s
2. Carlos Sainz (ESP) / Lucas Cruz (ESP) MINI JCW Buggy  – 1h 3m 40s
3. Kuba Przygonski (POL) / Tom Colsoul (BEL) MINI JCW Rally – 1h 3m 41s
4. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS) / Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) Toyota – 1h 3m 59s
5. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU) / Timo Gottschalk (GER) MINI JCW Rally – 1h 4m 09s
6. Giniel de Villiers (ZAF) / Dirk von Zitzewitz (GER) Toyota – 1h 4m 21s
7. Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA) / David Castera (FRA) MINI JCW Buggy – 1h 4m 38s
8. Bernhard Ten Brinke (NLD) / Xavier Panseri (FRA) Toyota – 1h 5m 00s
9. Harry Hunt (GBR) / Wouter Rosegaar (FRA) Peugeot – 1h 5m 06s
10. Cyril Despres (FRA) / Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA) MINI JCW Buggy – 1h 6m 06s
11. Nani Roma (ESP) / Alex Haro (ESP) MINI JCW Rally – 1h 6m 26s
12. Orlando Terranova (ARG) / Ronnie Graue (ARG) MINI JCW Rally – 1h 6m 51s
…
16. Boris Garafulic (CHL) / Filipe Palmeiro (PRT) MINI JCW Rally – 1h 8m 28s

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