Dakar: Stage 12 Siwa - Siwa notes

Stage 12: Siwa - Siwa
Tuesday 14th January 2003

Liaison: 57 km - Special stage: 341 km - Liaison: 47 km - Total: 445 km

O9:23 - A stage based on a long circle back to Siwa going south of the oasis, through the Egyptian dunes. The way through the dunes has been well indicated but the competitors should have huge sensations in the very steep descents. The Siwa oasis offers a fantastic landscape between dunes and mountains with palm trees and lakes.

O9:31 - 108 bikes 69 cars and 31 trucks have started the stage from Siwa back to Siwa in Egypt. Have pulled out of the race: Quick (n.100), Foj (n.248), Lechleiter (n.276), Voithofer (n.451).

Giniel De Villiers and Pascal Maimon.

Photo by Nissan Europe.

Cars:
O9:32 - At km 40, Josep-Maria Servia (Schlesser Ford - n.209) has stopped for mechanical reasons.

Motobikes:
O9:32 - France's Cyril Despres (KTM - n.7), second overall has clocked the fastest times at the first two CPs (km 70 and 93). At CP2, Despres was leading ahead of Coma (KTM - n.10) by 29secs. Third was Sainct (KTM - n.3) at 34secs followed by Lundmark (KTM - n.16) at 1min46 and Meoni (KTM - n.1) at 2min31.

O9:33 - France's Cyril Despres (KTM - n.7), second overall has clocked the fastest time at CP3 after 145kms. Coma (KTM - n.10) is at 32secs. Sainct (KTM - n.3) is at 1min58secs. Lundmark (KTM - n.16) at 2min36. Meoni (KTM - n.1) at 3min54.

Cars:
O9:36 - At Cp 2 after 93kms Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi - n.206) has the fastest time so far. Masuoka (Mitsubishi - n.200) is at 1min55sec. Fontenay (Mitsubishi - n.202) at 4min07. De Mevius (BMW - n.205) at 4min59.

Motobikes:
10:25 - At a secret CP between CP3 and the finish line set up by the organisers, the new best time is for Coma (KTM - n.10). Lundmark (KTM - n.16) is second at 1min49. Despres (KTM - n.7) is at 4min05. Sainct (KTM - n.3) at 6min23. Meoni (KTM - n.1) is at 7min55.

Cars:
10:41 - At Cp 3 after 145kms Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi - n.206) has the fastest time so far. Masuoka (Mitsubishi - n.200) is at 3min27. Fontenay (Mitsubishi - n.202) is at 5min24. De Mevius (BMW - n.205) at 6min36. Biasion (Mitsubishi - n.207) at 6min44. De Villiers (nissan - n.217) at 9min42. Alphand (BMW - n.221) at 10min42. Vatanen (Nissan - n.204) at 13min50.

10:42 - At km 108, Ukyo Katayama (Toyota - n.243) has had an accident. The car is upside down. The two members of the car are OK and are by the vehicle.

Truck:
10:47 - At Cp 2 after 93kms Vladimir Tchaguine (Kamaz - n.407) has the fastest time so far. De Rooy (DAF - n.409) is at 23secs. De Rooy Jnr (DAF - n.414) is at 24secs. Kabirov (Kamaz - n.412) at 4min17 and De Azevedo (TAtra - n.410) at 4min41.

10:47 - At km 152, Gerardus De Rooy (DAF - n.414) has crashed after jumping a dune. The car appears to be seriously damaged.

Motobikes:
11:01 - On the finish line of the special, Coma (KTM - n.10) has he best time of the day. Lundmark (KTM - n.16) is second at 2min01. Despres (KTM - n.7) is at 4min00. Sainct (KTM - n.3) at 5min59. Meoni (KTM - n.1) is at 7min58.

In the overall Sainct leads with a 10min48 advantage on Depres. Meoni is third at 30min00.

11:20 - On the finish line of the special, late starter Sala has the best time. Second is Ullevalseter (KTM - n.12) at 8sec. Stanovik (KTM - n.48) is third at 1min08.

Cars:
11:46 - At a secret CP between CP3 and the finish line, the best time is for Peterhansel (Mitsubishi - n.206), 5min53 ahead of Masuoka (Mitsubishi - n.200). Third is Fontenay (Mitsubishi - n.202) at 11min57. Fourth is Biasion (Mitsubishi - n.207) at 12min48. De Mevius (BMW - n.205), after mechanical problems, is at 14min20.

13:39 - On the finish line, the best time is for Peterhansel (Mitsubishi - n.206), 7min46 ahead of Masuoka (Mitsubishi - n.200). Third is Fontenay (Mitsubishi - n.202) at 16min45. Fourth is Biasion (Mitsubishi - n.207) at 18min35. Fifth is De Villiers (Nissan - n.217) at 22min28. Alphand (BMW - n.221) is at 24min02. Vatanen (nissan - n.204) is at 25mn08. De Mevius (BMW - n.205), third overall before the start of the stage is still stopped with mechanical problems.

In the overall Peter now has a 24min18 lead on Masuoka. Fontenay moves up to third spot, 2h25min adrift.

Truck:
13:51 - On the finish line of the special (Siwa-Siwa), the best time is for Vladimir Tchaguine (Kamaz - n.407), 10min18 ahead of De Rooy (DAF - n.409). With Gerardus De Rooy (DAF - n.414) crashing, the Russian takes command in the overall.

-aso-