Bit early to be starting a new thread, but thought it would be interesting for you all to read,
FORD confirms participation in 2014 DAKAR
These Ford's compete very well with the Toyota Hilux in South Africa, expect them to be very competitive!
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Bit early to be starting a new thread, but thought it would be interesting for you all to read,
FORD confirms participation in 2014 DAKAR
These Ford's compete very well with the Toyota Hilux in South Africa, expect them to be very competitive!
The route has been published: Route: Dakar. Notably, there will be several marathon stages, and shorter liaison sections. Only four months to go :)
They are testing soon in Namibia, hopefully we know more soon...
Any idea if that's the latest evolution of Hilux? Test Toyota Hilux Dakar - Peter van Merksteijn Jr.
Did the evolution Hilux have roof scoops like this?
http://youtu.be/iYQGQPPY9AY (2012 - roof scoops)
http://youtu.be/PhkLFvG7a_Q (2013 - new engine air intake on right hand window pillow)
PvM Jr's Hilux has probably had a few tweaks since it was last used. Sounds like the 5 litre engine.
Alister McRae is competing on a KTM in this week's Australasian Safari Rally.
http://www.australasiansafari.com.au
Kees Weel would have to be favoured for a podium in the auto section.
Alister McRae is 5th in the bikes going into last day.
The 'Overdrive' Hilux leads the 'Hallspeed' Hilux.
Sad day on Wednesday. RIP Ivan Erceg. http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/09/25/com ... an-safari/
WE finished the Safari in 7th outright and did the last 2 days on only 3 cylinders. Our team mate Peter Jerie finished 5th and 1st in class. He will be doing Dakar in the other DMax that is ready to go in the container to be shipped off next week.
Overall a good event apart from the loss of Ivan, he was a larger than life character, RIP Ivan.
Ray
Morocco Rally and Baja soon.
My pickems - Coma in the bikes. Terranova in the 'cars'.
http://rallyemaroc.npo.fr/?lang=en
French driver Christian Lavieille is leaving Team Dessoude (which them he had lot of mechanical trouble) for Great Wall (SMG).
X-RAID TEAM: ALL GOOD THINGS COME IN FOURS!
Monster Energy X-raid armada will be four-strong on 2014 Dakar:
- Peterhansel / Cottret - black Mini
- Roma / Perin - yellow Mini
- Holowczyc / Zhiltsov - red Mini
- Terranova / Fiuza - orange Mini
Note that Holowczyc's co-driver during the season, Schulz, has been replaced by Zhiltsov, who co-drove for Novitskiy on 2013 Dakar. Novitskiy has been replaced by Terranova / Fiuza, for whom it will be the first Dakar in the factory team.
Caselli is reported to have gained a head injury while competing on the Baja 1000.
Carlos Sainz joins Red Bull SMG Rally Team for 2014
Two-car Red Bull SMG Rally Team:
- Sainz / Gottschalk
- Chabot / Pillot
Al-Attiyah stopped the buggy project apparently and will drive Mini too.
Really looking forward to the event, first time visit for me! :D Photographing for van Merksteijn #335 in a Toyota again.
Martijn... Utterly jealous does not fully express my feelings at this time ;) Hope you enjoy it and post your photos up and also give us a story of how you are doing the trip :up: Something I want to do within the next few years!
Hehe :) I'll make a report and show some photos offcourse!
We'll be doing the trip with these cars: http://instagram.com/p/g7vABjw_HF/ :)
please stop! :angryfireQuote:
Originally Posted by MartijnS
Very little has been said about the 2nd Toyota from SA,
Leeroy Poulter is extremely fast, probably faster than Giniel de Villiers, but hasnt got anywhere near the experience of such a long event, if everything holds together you may just see a surprise up front.
Im not convinced Al Atiyah joining Mini this year is a good idea, its going to be a similar issue to the Alonso/Raikonen problem at Ferrari, i dont see him or Peterhansel taking a step back, which may be their downfall at the end of the day.
found some pictures from the port Le Havre where cars/truks etc were loaded to the ship:
http://buzzybeeforum.nl/viewtopic.php?f=376&t=44689
Would be great event! strong starting list, loads of good stuff coming to Dakar!
Thanks man, great photos!!!
nice photos! love these trucks
Team Mitsubishi Brasil with two ASX this time. One for regular driver Guilherme Spinelli, the second one for Reinaldo Varela, 2012 World Cross Country Rally Champion in T2 class.
Although it's Varela's first Dakar in a top car (he did a few of the last editions with T2 cars, UTV and in beginning of 2000's in Africa with T2 car), my guess is that he will do better than Spinelli. Id even say that we'll see some top 5 times from him, specially on the stages without dunes.
Me to :) As a Czech I have to because it's the only category where we are strong (since Machá?ek is not running a quad anymore) :)Quote:
Originally Posted by makinen_fan
Really looking forward to the event, first time visit for me!
any one overhere with real knowledge to share their thoughts on possible top10? :) cars/truks/bikes... lets start this game!! oops, sorry, is this called pickems over here? :) I'm new to this forum
About trucks...Quote:
Originally Posted by drive
Probably the biggest favorite is Gerard De Rooy if his Iveco truck is reliable. Kamaz is always strong but after the end of career of Chagin and Kabirov they lost the top drivers. Still Eduard Nikolaev won last year and the others like Mardeev or Karginov are catching up. From photos it is clear they have some new trucks too. Hans Stacey with another Iveco will be fast sure as well. From the number of Tatras the fastest will be probably Aleš Loprais but he is quite brutal driver and rarely finishes without problems, also his new truck suffered from plenty of problems in Silk Way rally. Martin Kolomý who finished fifth last year changed team for newly created Tatra-Buggyra factory one. The truck shall be fast but it was finished too late for some extensive testing so the reliability is a question. In the Tatra Bonver team the new big name is Artur Ardavicius who runs another newly built truck about which nobody knows how fast it is. With Man and Ginaf I don't know that much about them. They will be probably close to the top too.
Yes, Versluis with the MAN has speed for top 5, but probably wont be faultless troughout the rally.
Marcel van Vliet also has top 10 speed. If Wuf van Ginkel keeps his Ginaf in 1 piece he normally should also be around the top 10.
Cars will be a big Mini fight I think. Hope Sainz will be close and wondering what kind of Hummer Gordon is driving.
... and bikes shall be again Coma vs. Despres battle :)
By the way we forgot the new but maybe strong truck team - the Belarussian Maz. They were very strong in Silk Way rally where they were fighting Kamaz!
Cars... Big fight between Peterhansel and al Atiyah with Sainz and Gordon coming with some stage wins, but i doubt will be consistent, De Villiers in the Toyota will be waiting in the wings to pick up the pieces when it all falls apart for the top guys.
Chances are Gordon will once again be his own worst enemy.
As i mentioned before, dont discount the 2nd Toyota, Poulter is very very quick, he just needs experience.
As a South African i am very excited to see another team Ford with 2 cars, not sure they can run in front, but they may sneak some top 10 places and of course would love to see the Toyota's finally take an overall win.
Holowczyc can be really fast too.
The new Monster Energy X-raid Dakar video is online
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W4tfgLN ... 6rjtuY8muw
That seemed a bit Ken Block Gymkhana like, common sponsor i suppose.Quote:
The new Monster Energy X-raid Dakar video is online
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W4tfgLN ... 6rjtuY8muw
Strange there's no more chinese bikers(on Jincheng motorcycles)this year :confused:
Looks like Gordon's HST has spent a bit of time in the windtunnel or in the aero modelling computer.
http://www.planetrobby.com/photo/2014-d ... eak-peek-6
lets begin! some Scruteneering pictures from Thu and Wednesday
Please post other image sources :)
DAKAR!!!!!