Dakar 2018; SS2: Orlando Terranova 5th – MINI JWC Rally
· Menzies/Mortensen forced into early retirement by an accident
· The dune programme is continued
The second stage of the 2018 Dakar Rally, around the Peruvian city of Pisco, also proved to be a true challenge. In the 267-kilometre special stage across the dunes, Orlando Terranova and Bernardo ‘Ronnie’ Graue (both ARG) finished fifth, with their MINI John Cooper Works Rally while Mikko Hirvonen (FIN) and Andreas Schulz (GER) in a MINI John Cooper Works Buggy secured seventh place in today’s special stage. The two MINI JCW Rally crews Joan ‘Nani’ Roma / Alex Haro (both ESP) and Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski (POL) / Tom Colsoul (BEL) finished 14th and 16th.
“We made a good start into this tough second stage,” revealed Terranova. “Unfortunately I made a mistake with just 20 more kilometres to go and we lost some seven or eight minutes. A mistake I’m really annoyed about but things like this just happen. The MINI runs really well and there still are several days to go.” The Argentinean now holds sixth position in the overall standings.
Just like yesterday, Hirvonen was happy with his achievements. “It was a tough and exhausting start into the Dakar. I don’t take any unnecessary risks. After all, the buggy is a new vehicle and I am not too experienced in this kind of dunes.” The Finn missed a waypoint in the early stages and had to turn back – what cost him several minutes. He now holds seventh place in the overall standings.
Meanwhile, Roma had to cope with a dose of bad luck. He got stuck in the sand once and later, he lost his bonnet when he crashed into a whole. “The special stage was really exhausting and it was a pity that we were forced to stop twice,” said the MINI JCW Rally driver who currently is 11th in the overall standings. “But we are just two days into the Dakar. I’m really sorry for Bryce who had to retire so early.” Przygonski and Colsoul finished two positions behind Roma. “Unfortunately, Tom started to feel ill in the car,” said the young Pole, currently 13th overall. “Therefore we couldn’t push to the max. Now we have to focus on getting him fit again.”
For Bryce Menzies and Pete Mortensen the Dakar is already over. The US-American pairing rolled the car at the beginning of the special stage. Fortunately, they both survived the accident without any serious injuries – but repairing the vehicle on site proved to be impossible. “I misjudged a spot,” admitted Menzies, “We were too fast and the rear of the car got airborne. Afterwards, we rolled several times. The frame of the buggy fortunately is extremely rugged and we survived the accident without any really bad consequences. Regrettably, Pete suffered a fracture of his right foot. Now we have to focus on the 2019 Dakar.”
Due to an accident, the pairings Yazeed Al-Rajhi (KSA) / T. Gottschalk (GER) and Boris Garafulic (CHI) / Filipe Palmeiro (POR) still are on their way to completing the special stage.
Tomorrow’s stage will take the competitors to San Juan de Marcona, Peru. A 296-kilometre special stage is followed by a 208-kilometre liaison to the bivouac. And like the first and second stages, special stage three once again will feature nothing but sand and dunes.
Dakar 2018 result SS2
1. C. Despres (FRA) / D. Castera (FRA) – Peugeot – 2h 56m 51s
2. S. Peterhansel (FRA) / J.-P. Cottret (FRA) Peugeot – 2h 57m 39s
3. S. Loeb (FRA) / D. Elena (MCO) Peugeot – 2h 59m 59s
4. G. de Villiers (RSA) / D. von Zitzewitz (GER) Toyota – 3h 04m 17s
5. O. Terranova (ARG) / R. Graue (ARG) MINI JCW Rally – 3h 09m 44s
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7. M. Hirvonen (FIN) / A. Schulz (Ger) MINI JCW Buggy – 3h 10m 41s
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14. N. Roma (ESP) / A. Haro (ESP) MINI JCW Rally – 3h 19m 22s
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16. J. Przygonski (POL) / T. Colsoul (BEL) MINI JCW Rally – 3h 23m 45s
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tba B. Garafulic (CHI) / F. Palmeiro (POR) MINI JCW Rally – tba
tba Y. Al-Rajhi (KSA) / T. Gottschalk (GER) ) MINI JCW Buggy – tba
Dakar 2018 overall after SS2
1. C. Despres (FRA) / D. Castera (FRA) – Peugeot – 3h 21m 18s
2. S. Peterhansel (FRA) / J.-P. Cottret (FRA) Peugeot – 3h 21m 45s
3. G. de Villiers (RSA) / D. von Zitzewitz (GER) Toyota – 3h 27m 02s
4. S. Loeb (FRA) / D. Elena (MCO) Peugeot – 3h 27m 27s
5. N. Al-Attiyah (QAT) / M. Baumel (FRA) Toyota – 3h 33m 33s
6. O. Terranova (ARG) / R. Graue (ARG) MINI JCW Rally – 3h 34m 08s
7. M. Hirvonen (FIN) / A. Schulz (Ger) MINI JCW Buggy – 3h 34m 08s
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11. N. Roma (ESP) / A. Haro (ESP) MINI JCW Rally – 3h 42m 06s
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13. J. Przygonski (POL) / T. Colsoul (BEL) MINI JCW Rally – 3h 47m 21s
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tba B. Garafulic (CHI) / F. Palmeiro (POR) MINI JCW Rally – tba
tba Y. Al-Rajhi (KSA) / T. Gottschalk (GER) ) MINI JCW Buggy – tba
