Dakar: Stage 12 Bobo-Dioulasso to Bamko notes

Stage 12: Bobo-Dioulasso to Bamko Tuesday, January 13, 2004 Liaison 85 km - Special 213 km - Liaison 368 km - Total 666 km The rally takes a new turn. The vehicles will go through new terrain, with turning tracks and valleys. A real WRC rally ...

Stage 12: Bobo-Dioulasso to Bamko
Tuesday, January 13, 2004

Liaison 85 km - Special 213 km - Liaison 368 km - Total 666 km

The rally takes a new turn. The vehicles will go through new terrain, with turning tracks and valleys. A real WRC rally special ! Those who are used to this kind of terrain will enjoy this stage with real driving skills. A special that should go fast, very fast for the best. But the competitors will have to be careful at the numerous traps on the road through he tropical forest of Banfora. At the end of the day they will discover with delight the city of Bamako.

Founded in 1640, in the heart of the mandingue country, Bamako, " the river of ca?mans " in old Bambara dialect, is settled between mountains and rivers in a splendid landscape.

Stage 12: 2004-01-13, Bobo-Dioulasso to Bamako.

Photo by A.S.O.

Bambaras, Kogoras, Markas, Malink?s, Maures, Peuls and Sarakol?s cross paths on the colored old market, and full of the typical thousand perfumes of western Africa.

Car

10:45 SCHLESSER FASTEST AT CP1
Jean-Louis Schlesser (Schlesser Ford n°200) has the fastest time so far at CP1 (km 59). Second is Alphand (BMW n°207) at 8sec, followed by Peterhansel (Mitsubishi n°203) at 1min09, Masuoka (Mitsubishi n°201) at 2min08, Kleinschmidt (Volkswagen n°204) at 2min59.

Bike

11:08 DESPRES WINS SPECIAL
Cyril Despres (KTM n°2) clocked the fastest time of the day's special (213kms) between Bobo-Dioulasso and Bamako. Second on the day was Coma (KTM n°11) at 10min47 ahead of his team mate and overall leader Joan Roma (KTM n°4) third at 11min25. Fourth is Cox (KTM n°10) at 11min57, followed by Lundmark (KTM n°6) at 13min07, Ullevalseter (KTM n°15) at 14min48, Sainct (KTM n°1) is at 17min58.

Car

11:17 SCHLESSER FASTEST AT CP2
At km 113 (CP2) Jean-Louis Schlesser (Schlesser Ford n°200) has the fastest time. Second is Alphand (BMW n°207) at 53sec, followed by Peterhansel (Mitsubishi n°203) at 3min54, Masuoka (Mitsubishi n°201) at 5min06, Kleinschmidt (Volkswagen n°204) at 6min33.

Bike

11:18 ROMA COMFORTS LEAD OVERALL
After stage 12 special between Bobo and Bamako, Joan Roma (KTM n°4) comforts his overall leadership. In second position, Richard Sainct (KTM n°1) is now at 10min06. Third is Alfie Cox (KTM n°10) at 28min53. Fourth is Despres (KTM n°2) is at 33min29.

Truck

11:41 DE AZEVEDO FASTEST AT CP1
In the truck race, Andr? De Azevedo (Tatra n°412) has the best time at CP1 (km 59). Second is Kabirov (Kamaz n°410) at 37sec. Third is De Rooy (DAF n°417) at 1min23 followed by Tchaguine (Kamaz n°414) at 1min39.

Car

11:48 ALPHAND WINS SPECIAL
On the finish line of the day's 213km special, Alphand (BMW n°207) has managed the fastest time. Second is Jean-Louis Schlesser (Schlesser Ford n°200) at 1min28sec, followed by Peterhansel (Mitsubishi n°203) at 5min40, Masuoka (Mitsubishi n°201) at 6min23.

11:56 PETER REMAINS OVERALL LEADER
After stage 12 special, Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi n°203) comforts his lead overall. Hiroshi Masuoka (Mitsubishi n°201) loses 43sec on the day and is now at 1h04min43 of his team mate. In third is Jean-Louis Schlesser (Schlesser Ford n°200) at 2h28min26.

Bike

12:21 FALL AT KM 10 OF THE LIAISON
At km 10 of the 213km special, Vasileios Orfanos (KTM n°48) suffered a fall and broke his collarbone.

Car

12:27 IVANOV CRASHES
Andrey Ivanov (Mitsubishi n°350) crashed at km 87 of the special. The car went tumbelling with no serious consequences.

General

12:28 190 ON THE START LINE OF THE SPECIAL
77 bikes, 72 cars and 41 trucks were authorised to start the day's special between Bobo Dioulasso and Bamako. Orfanos (KTM n°48) retired before the start of the special and Dunand (Mercedes n°463) was a non-starter.

Truck

12:45 KABIROV WINS SPECIAL
Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz n°410) clinched his third special win of this Telefonica Dakar. Second on the day was Andr? De Azevedo (Tatra n°412) at 2min20. Third was Gerard De Rooy (DAF n°417) at 4min48. Vladimir Tchaguine (Kamaz n°414) is fourth at 6min37.

12:58 TRUCKS - TCHAGUINE STILL OVERALL LEADER
Vladimir Tchaguine (Kamaz n°414) lost time on his main rivals but remains a comfortable overall leader of the truck race. He now has a 54min24 lead on De Azevedo (Tatra n°412) and 1h49min20 on Kabirov (Kamaz n°410). Kabirov overtakes De Rooy in third spot. The Dutchman is now at 1h51min21.

Car

13:25 McRAE 13th, VATANEN 14th
On the finish line of the special, Colin McRae (Nissan n°202) had clocked the 13th time of the day at 24min14 of the best time set by Alphand. Ari Vatanen (Nissan n°205) finished 14th at 25min38. Both drivers had taken off in 40th and 41st spot for the 213km special.