MOTOR SPORTS NEWS

Latest News

  • Overdrive Racing has just finished its most successful ever Cross-Country Rally season
  • Motorsport Ireland’s Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year Award Finalists announced
  • Finalists named for 2023 Sexton Trophy Young Racing Driver of the Year award
  • Dakar 2024: ‘Toughest Yet’ – Almost 5,000 kilometres over sand, stones and dunes
  • Test run for the Audi RS Q e-tron in southern France concludes Dakar preparations
  • Home
  • News
  • Dakar
    • DAKAR 2016
    • Dakar 2015
  • Cross-Country Rally
  • Notice Board
  • Rally
  • Motorbike
  • Touring Cars
  • Circuit Racing
  • Events
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • Linked
    • Youtube

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Alonso bounces back on Dakar SS3

Jan 08, 2020


  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Tweet

Fernando Alonso and Marc Coma scored their best-ever Dakar Rally stage result going fourth fastest over the 504-kilometre Stage 3 as the highest placed TOYOTA GAZOO Racing crew. The pair’s trouble-free run in their Toyota Hilux, trailing the leaders by just 6min 14sec, means they were able to leapfrog to 32nd position in the overall standings, 2hrs 40min 24sec behind the leaders, after a disappointing Stage 2.​

Fernando and Marc benefitted from a late three minute penalty handed to teammate Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel which saw the them drop from second fastest on the day to fifth. The crew delivered a solid performance on the stage, dropping only 6min 31sec from the leaders after the penalty was applied. Apart from one puncture, the pair made good use of their starting road position to keep their Dakar Rally title defence alive, improving to second place overall with a gap of 7min 55sec.

Giniel de Villiers and navigator Alex Haro had the unenviable task of opening the stage after setting the fastest time on the previous day. The pair tackled Stage 3 as fast as they felt they could over the unknown terrain, losing 16min 21sec to the leaders, dropping one place in the overall standings to seventh with a gap of 23min 42sec.

Two punctures meant Bernhard ten Brinke and navigator Tom Colsoul were 16min 43sec adrift from the leaders. Nevertheless, the pair drove a steady stage to consolidate their overall position despite struggling for visibility in the dust kicked up by the slower cars ahead of them on the stage. The crew increased their overall position to eighth, 33min 23sec behind the leader.

Stage 4 is up next where the rally travels from the future city of Neom on the Red Sea coast to the inland city of Al Ula on a 672-kilometre route which features a special stage of 453 kilometres. The special stage will see crews travel over a combination of gravel and sandy terrain in a more historic part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Glyn Hall, Team Principal: “Today was better for us in terms of fewer punctures. I think the big news of the day was Fernando’s excellent recovery after the time lost on Stage 2; an absolutely amazing performance. For Nasser and Mathieu, it was a day of consolidation even though the conditions weren’t easy by any means and they still suffered one puncture. They’re very much in the game and played it safe crossing the rocky tracks in the mountains. I think losing three minutes [sic before the penalty is applied] in these conditions is not too bad at all.”

Nasser Al-Attiyah (No. 300): “Yes, it was a good day for us and we were really pushing a lot early on during the stage. Unfortunately, we had one puncture after which we decided to take it a bit easier and make sure we get to the end of the stage without problems. I’m quite happy to be in second place overall and everything is going well for us in the Hilux.”

Giniel de Villiers (No. 304): “Today was okay, it was a beautiful stage. In the middle, there was some really stunning scenery. Obviously, we opened today, so it was a bit tricky. We lost some time, but the front runners were really fast today. They passed me at the 300 km mark, and from there I just followed them, and it was easy to follow once we were behind them. We had a good day otherwise, but there’s still a long way to go.”

Bernhard ten Brinke (No. 307): “It was an interesting day for us, starting 15th on the road. There were several slower cars in front of us and after 30 kilometres, we were coming up right behind them in the dust. It took 25 kilometres and, just after we overtook them, we got a puncture so we had to stop to change the wheel. We had to try pass them again in the dust where you simply couldn’t see. We climbed up to eighth place overall and, to be honest, with this starting position, I’m happy with our performance.”

Fernando Alonso (No. 310): “It was a very smooth day for us today with good visibility on the road. We caught all the cars in front of us at the right moments when they had punctures or other problems; so we had some clear track in front of us. It was a truly beautiful stage with amazing scenery but, unfortunately, we were going too fast to really enjoy the view. Overall, I’m happy with our performance today and Marc was again spot on with the navigation.”

 

2020 Dakar Rally Day 3 Results:

4th No. 310 Fernando Alonso/Marc Coma, +6min 14sec

5th No. 300 Nasser Al-Attiyah/Mathieu Baumel, +6min 31sec (incl. penalty: +3min)

9th No. 304 Giniel de Villiers/Alex Haro, +16min 21sec

10th No. 307 Bernhard ten Brinke/Tom Colsoul, +16min 43sec

 

2020 Dakar Rally Overall Results After Day 3:

2nd No. 300 Nasser Al-Attiyah/Mathieu Baumel, +7min 55sec (incl. penalty: +3min)

7th No. 304 Giniel de Villiers/Alex Haro, +23min 42sec

8th No. 307 Bernhard ten Brinke/Tom Colsoul, +33min 23sec

32nd No. 310 Fernando Alonso/Marc Coma, +2hrs 40min 24sec


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Overdrive Racing has just finished its most successful ever Cross-Country Rally season
    Overdrive Racing has just finished its...

    Nov 30, 2023 Comments Off on Overdrive Racing has just finished its most successful ever Cross-Country Rally season

  • Motorsport Ireland’s Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year Award Finalists announced
    Motorsport Ireland’s Billy Coleman...

    Nov 30, 2023 Comments Off on Motorsport Ireland’s Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year Award Finalists announced

  • Finalists named for 2023 Sexton Trophy Young Racing Driver of the Year award
    Finalists named for 2023 Sexton Trophy...

    Nov 27, 2023 Comments Off on Finalists named for 2023 Sexton Trophy Young Racing Driver of the Year award

  • Dakar 2024: ‘Toughest Yet’ – Almost 5,000 kilometres over sand, stones and dunes
    Dakar 2024: ‘Toughest Yet’...

    Nov 27, 2023 Comments Off on Dakar 2024: ‘Toughest Yet’ – Almost 5,000 kilometres over sand, stones and dunes

More in this category
  • Overdrive Racing has just finished its most successful ever Cross-Country Rally season
    Overdrive Racing has just finished its...

    Comments Off on Overdrive Racing has just finished its most successful ever Cross-Country Rally season

  • Dakar 2024: ‘Toughest Yet’ – Almost 5,000 kilometres over sand, stones and dunes
    Dakar 2024: ‘Toughest Yet’...

    Comments Off on Dakar 2024: ‘Toughest Yet’ – Almost 5,000 kilometres over sand, stones and dunes

  • Test run for the Audi RS Q e-tron in southern France concludes Dakar preparations
    Test run for the Audi RS Q e-tron in...

    Comments Off on Test run for the Audi RS Q e-tron in southern France concludes Dakar preparations

  • Extreme E welcomes back broadcaster Jennie Gow to its commentary team for Season 3 finale (2-3 December)
    Extreme E welcomes back broadcaster...

    Comments Off on Extreme E welcomes back broadcaster Jennie Gow to its commentary team for Season 3 finale (2-3 December)


Fleet Car Magazine

Notice Board

  • Experience the Thrills of Motorsport in Emilia-Romagna: Following the Trail of Enzo Ferrari
    Experience the Thrills of Motorsport in Emilia-Romagna:...

    Sep 01, 2023

    TweetThe northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna boasts...
  • 1983 Lancia Rally 037 Evoluzione 2 for sale at Bonhams|Cars’ Goodwood Revival Sale
    1983 Lancia Rally 037 Evoluzione 2 for sale at...

    Aug 24, 2023

    TweetBonhams|Cars is delighted to offer one of the ultimate...
  • 1963 – 2023: Automobili Lamborghini, 60 years of unique cars
    1963 – 2023: Automobili Lamborghini, 60 years of unique...

    Aug 11, 2023

    TweetFrom the 1963 350 GTV to the Invencible and Auténtica...
  • One-off ‘Opera Unica’ Huracán Sterrato celebrates Lamborghini 60th anniversary
    One-off ‘Opera Unica’ Huracán Sterrato celebrates...

    Aug 05, 2023

    TweetInspired by the vibrant blues of Sardinia’s seas and...
  • Latest Statement by Galway Motor Club Limited
    Latest Statement by Galway Motor Club Limited

    Jun 16, 2023

    TweetThe recent decision by the Council of Motor Sport...

Categories

  • Africa Eco-Race
  • Baja
  • BRC
  • Circuit Racing
  • Cross-Country Rally
  • Dakar
  • Dakar 2015
  • DAKAR 2016
  • DAKAR 2017
  • DAKAR 2019 PERU
  • DAKAR RALLY 2018
  • EV Motorsport
  • Events
  • EverGreeens: Irish Abroad
  • Extreme E
  • Forestry Rally
  • Formula 1
  • Hillclimb
  • IndyCar Series
  • Interview
  • Middle East Rally Championship
  • Morocco Rally
  • Motorbike
  • News
  • Notice Board
  • Rally
  • RallyX
  • Related products
  • Review
  • Sportscars
  • Touring Cars
  • Tribute
  • Truck Racing
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • WRC
Tweets by @IrMotSportNews

Recent Posts

Overdrive Racing has just finished its most successful ever Cross-Country Rally season

Overdrive Racing has just finished its most successful ever...

Nov 30, 2023

TweetThe Belgian car preparation company and Toyota Gazoo Racing won the Dakar Rally, the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) for a second successive year and the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country...
Read More
Dakar 2024: ‘Toughest Yet’ – Almost 5,000 kilometres over sand, stones and dunes

Dakar 2024: ‘Toughest Yet’ –...

Nov 27, 2023

Test run for the Audi RS Q e-tron in southern France concludes Dakar preparations

Test run for the Audi RS Q e-tron in southern...

Nov 27, 2023

Extreme E welcomes back broadcaster Jennie Gow to its commentary team for Season 3 finale (2-3 December)

Extreme E welcomes back broadcaster Jennie Gow to...

Nov 27, 2023

Yazeed Al-Rajhi, Mohammed Al-Balooshi & Haitham Al-Tuwaijri record wins in car, motorcycle & quad categories at Rally Qassim Toyota 2023

Yazeed Al-Rajhi, Mohammed Al-Balooshi &...

Nov 27, 2023

Copyright 2016 / All rights reserved