Dakar: Stage 3 Castellon to Tanger notes

Stage 3: Castellon to Tanger
Saturday, January 3, 2004

Liaison 4 km - Special 9 km - Liaison 852 km - Total 865 km

Before the beaches of Dakar, the competitors will discover the sand of the beaches of the Costa Azahar around Castellon. The special will be on a short 9km course on the shores of the Valencia Gulf : a real show as well as a dress-rehearsal before Africa. During the special, the drivers and riders will be able to test their machines and sort out the last technical details before heading for the stages in Morocco.

Stage 3: 2004-01-03, Castellon to Tanger.

Photo by A.S.O.

Bike

11:52 SECOND WIN FOR FRETIGNE
France's David Fretigne (Yamaha n°12) added stage 3 special to his Narbonne triumph. On his two-wheeled drive bike he clocked the best time of 6min13 on today's 9km course on the beach of Castellon. Cyril Despres (FRA - KTM n°2) finished second for the third consecutive day, just a second adrift. Third was Italy's Giovanni Sala (KTM n°7) ahead of Dutchman Erik Verhoeff (KTM n°29) and Spaniard Isidre Esteve Pujol (KTM n°5). Richard Sainct (FRA -- KTM n°1) was 8th and Fabrizio Meoni (ITA -- KTM n°3) 15th at 53 sec of the day's winner.

Car

12:46 DE VILLIERS BACK ON TRACK
After suffering a crash in stage 2 during the Narbonne prologue, Giniel De Villiers (Nissan n°208) clocked the best time of the 3rd special staged on the beach of Castellon. The South African finished in 6min 22sec, just ahead of Gregoire De Mevius (BMW n°212) by 4sec. Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi n°203) took third spot, 5sec adrift. Joint fourth were Hiroshi Masuoka (Mitsubishi n°201) and Luc Alphand (BMW n°207) in the exact same time.

In the new overall standings, Peterhansel takes command with a five second advantage on Servia (Schlesser Ford n°209), eleventh on the day's special.

Truck

15:48 DE ROOY IN FRONT OF DE ROOY
Johannes De Rooy (DAF n°411) claimed victory on the Castellon special. The Dutch veteran beat his son Gerardus (DAF n°417) by 7sec and takes overall leadership. Third on the day was last year's Dakar winner Tchaguine (Kamaz n°414).

-aso-