2013 Dakar - On 4 wheels

[neduro]

Originally Posted by dzrtracin

"We're here to compete, not to show off; this is not the circus, even if it pleases the audience.

Uh, OK. I missed the part where this is serious business. Peterhansel sounds whiney.

[Dekatria]

Peterhansel already warming up the cheat accusations, I see.

[Cord]

Carlos doesn't seem overly confident with the Qatar "Bugly"

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20121231/WRC/121239997

[Dread Pendragon]

this is not the circus, even if it pleases the audience.

Originally Posted by neduro

Uh, OK. I missed the part where this is serious business. Peterhansel sounds whiney.

Yes, for insisting the race shouldn't be a circus, he sure sounds willing to throw some fuel on the fire.

Whenever I really want to hate the French I find out that Despres has a charity for kids in Senegal, or Etienne Lavigne brought a Red Bull to a despairing Toby. I don't "hate" Peterhansel, but it makes things a lot more fun to not just want Gordon to win, but to have someone I deeply want him to beat.

[Brodovitch]

Originally Posted by Cord

Carlos doesn't seem overly confident with the Qatar "Bugly"

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20121231/WRC/121239997

I expected nothing more to be honest... let's see what happens after the first couple of stages

[Flood]

It's a bit surprising that someone like Sainz would jump on such a haphazardly prepared project like the Nasserbugly. I never even had the impression that he loved racing the Dakar that much.

[Deadly99]

Originally Posted by Flood

It's a bit surprising that someone like Sainz would jump on such a haphazardly prepared project like the Nasserbugly. I never even had the impression that he loved racing the Dakar that much.

I kinda hear ya on him not being as pastionate about the Dakar as others....I was certainly surprised to see him team up with Nasser...wasnt too long ago they almost came to blows. Potential for some fun to watch team dynamics

[Balkan Boy]

Originally Posted by Flood

It's a bit surprising that someone like Sainz would jump on such a haphazardly prepared project like the Nasserbugly. I never even had the impression that he loved racing the Dakar that much.

Maybe he's finding some gratification in developing new, competitive vehicles like the VW WRC project.
He's probably finding it more difficult to keep up with young guns so this sort of low pressure environment is more adequate.

I'm really curious how will the two buggies fair.

[Seth S]

Originally Posted by modernbeat

If it's got the three cylinder, there is no oil in the crankcase. It's in the gas tank!

I unfortunately know way too much about them. Here's my Historic class rally car.

we run stuff that is a little newer...unfortunately as good as this car below is I don't think it would do so hot in the dakar:

[Beez]

Originally Posted by Seth S

we run stuff that is a little newer...unfortunately as good as this car below is I don't think it would do so hot in the dakar:

You'll never know until you try Seth.

[Jeffy]

Rooting for Team Hino Sugawara. Hope they get more coverage this year. That goes for a lot of the smaller teams.

http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2013/us/rider/508.html
http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2013/us/rider/520.html

[gagnaou]

Originally Posted by neduro

Uh, OK. I missed the part where this is serious business. Peterhansel sounds whiney.

Here is my take on it, I think I may have posted it somewhere else. I grew up watching Peterhansel race enduros, supermotos and other motorcycle events. While being good on the bike, he was also well known for messing up other people's head ("intox"). Esquirol, Arcarons, etc. are a few names that comes to mind, by comments he was making in person or through the media, he was affecting their behavior.
I see nothing different here, playing on Robby's ego. Robby will want to be able to say "the famous K. M. A." and therefore pushing maybe more than what he should and make mistakes....
Hopefully not the case this year, but it seems like just about every Dakar, Robby had a a mishapp (rolled the VW the first year, overjumped a Dune the second year and smash the radiator, being pulled out of the ditch by the Lada, roll last year....) because he was probably pushing too much (something you rarely see Peterhansel do except when he clipped the tree the day before the final stage in Africa).
The first few stages are going to be really interesting to see where everybody is at level wise. Robby, Nasser and Carlos, the toyotas also, all the buggies even Vigouroux (last winner in Marocco beating the Minis...) and of course the Minis.

This wait is killing me, last year we would have already been in business ;-)

[Seth S]

Originally Posted by Beez

You'll never know until you try Seth.

have tossed the idea around of building a car for the Safari...not sure if that will happen though.

[Sparrowhawk]

Originally Posted by gagnaou

... I see nothing different here, playing on Robby's ego. ...

Plausible.

[troy safari carpente]

Originally Posted by Sparrowhawk

Plausible.

very.