Dakar: Stage nine Tichit to Nema notes

Tichit to Nema
Connection: 0 km - Special: 494 km - Connection: 3 km
Total: 497 km

General:

05:31 - STAGE 9: TICHIT -- NEMA
497 km, including 494 against the clock, are on the menu of the ninth stage. Navigation will certainly be the name of the game for this announced purple passage of the 29th edition with a route including few landmarks and still some famous stretches of dunes to be crossed off-road. If navigation will be crucial, managing mechanics will be as essential in part 2 of this marathon stage. Without going through the expert hands of assistance in Tichit, the vehicles which will already have suffered since Atar, will make their crew pay... On the favorites' side, the great resistance of Giniel De Villiers to the assaults of Stephane Peterhansel will still be much awaited, even if his copilot Dirk Von Zitzewitz seems less experienced than Jean-Paul Cottret...

10:04 - START OF LIVE COVERAGE
Welcome to all. At the closing of clocking at 4h40 GMT, 312 vehicles, including 154 bikes, 106 cars and 52 trucks had arrived at the bivouac. 54 teams were therefore still missing including 14 announced withdrawals. Winner of the 8th special stage yesterday, Spaniard Marc Coma was the first one to get to grips on today's special stage at 7h15 GMT as scheduled.

Car:

10:08 - It's a race against time for Vigouroux
Nr 328, VIGOUROUX/WINOCQ - CHEVROLET, OPEN
Victim of a broken propeller shaft at CP2 (km 357) of yesterday's special stage, around Tidjikja, Frenchmen Eric Vigouroux and his copilot Alexandre Winocq spent the night repairing. The miracle having been accomplished, the team is now on its way and trying to get to the starting point of today's special stage within the time limit.

Bike:

10:32 - Coma in the lead at km 122
Nr 1, MARC COMA - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
As the first 30 bikes passed km 122, Spaniard Marc Coma was provisionally in the lead of today's special stage, 1'31 ahead of Norwegian Pal Anders Ullevalseter and 1'41 in front of Brazilian Jean De Azevedo.

10:52 - Coma in the lead at km 166
Nr 1, MARC COMA - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
As the first 7 bikes passed km 166, Spaniard Marc Coma was provisionally in the lead of today's special stage, 59" ahead of Brazilian Jean De Azevedo and 1'04 in front of Norwegian Pal Anders Ullevalseter.

11:28 - Coma in the lead at CP1
Nr 1, MARC COMA - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
As the first 6 bikes passed CP1 (km 218), Spaniard Marc Coma was the provisional leader of today's special stage, 1'01" in front of Norwegian Pal Anders Ullevalseter and 1'30 ahead of Brazilian Jean De Azevedo. Beware however that the leader in the overall rankings might have missed WP 3.

Car:

11:37 - Sainz first at km 122
Nr 303, SAINZ/PERIN - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
As the first 9 cars passed km 122, Spaniard Carlos Sainz was provisionally in the lead of the day's special stage, 1'36 ahead of Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel and 2'07 in front of American driver Mark Miller.

Bike:

11:47 - Broken gearbox for Verhoeven
Nr 14, FRANS VERHOEVEN - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
Victim of a broken gearbox on km 198 of the special stage of the day, Dutch biker Frans Verhoeven is now waiting for his assistance team.

Car:

12:02 - De Villiers' hopes up in flames...
Nr 301, DE VILLIERS/VON ZITZEWITZ - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
After a malfunction of the turbo set the engine of his car on fire at km 129, the leader in the overall rankings Giniel de Villiers is now stranded at the foot of the Elephants' Rock and waiting for his assistance team.

12:07 - Small fright for Sainz...
Nr 303, SAINZ/PERIN - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
Spaniard Carlos Sainz had to stop for a few minutes on the side of the track for an unknown reason at km 130, before he could go back to the normal course of this 8th special stage.

Bike:

12:14 - Despres falls down...
Nr 2, CYRIL DESPRES - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
After a driving mistake on km 130, at the foot of the Elephants' Rock, Frenchman Cyril Despres fell without harm but now has to scroll manually through his road book.

Car:

12:17 - Peter turns mechanic as well...
Nr 302, PETERHANSEL/COTTRET - MITSUBISHI, SUPER PRODUCTION
Due to a mechanical problem, Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel stopped for a few minutes 30 km before CP1, to work under his car before driving on a few minutes later.

Truck:

12:26 - Stacey looses 15 minutes
Nr 501, STACEY/GOTLIB/DER KINDEREN - MAN
Dutchman Hans Stacey, leader in the overall rankings, stopped for 15 minutes at km 153 due to a flat tire before going back to the normal course of the special stage.

Car:

12:36 - Sainz first at km 185
Nr 303, SAINZ/PERIN - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
As the first 8 cars passed km 185, Spaniard Carlos Sainz was timed in the lead of today's special stage, 1'00 ahead of his US teammate Mark Miller and 2'25 ahead of Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser. Marked in 7th position, Stephane Peterhansel was 11'00 behind Sainz.

Bike:

13:03 - Coma first at km 296
Nr 1, MARC COMA - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
As the first 6 bikes passed km 296, Spaniard Marc Coma was in the lead of today's special stage, 20" ahead of Brazilian Jean De Azevedo and 55" ahead of Norwegian Pal Anders Ullevalseter.

Car:

13:08 - Sainz first at CP 1
Nr 303, SAINZ/PERIN - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
As the first 5 cars have now gone through CP 1, Spaniard Carlos Sainz was marked in the lead of today's special stage, 3'16 ahead of Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser and 3'50 in front of his US teammate Mark Miller.

Bike:

13:05 - Broken chassis for Gonzalez
Nr 250, JUAN MANUEL GONZALEZ - KTM, QUAD
Spaniard Juan Manuel Gonzalez broke the chassis of his quad on km 119 of the day's special stage and is now waiting for the broom truck.

13:10 - Coma in the lead at km 322
Nr 1, MARC COMA - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
As the first 6 bikes passed km 322, Spaniard Marc Coma was in the lead of today's special stage, 43" ahead of Norwegian Pal Anders Ullevalseter and 1'15 ahead of Brazilian Jean De Azevedo.

Truck:

13:12 - Van Ginkel in the lead at km 166
Nr 513, VAN GINKEL/TIJSTERMAN/DE ROOY - GINAF
As the first 6 trucks passed km 166, Dutchman Wulfert Van Ginkel was provisional leader of today's special stage, 4'22 ahead of Czech driver Ales Loprais and 5'54 in front of Czech driver Tomas Tomecek.

13:50 - Van Ginkel in the lead at CP1
Nr 513, VAN GINKEL/TIJSTERMAN/DE ROOY - GINAF
As the first 6 trucks have now passed CP1 (km 218), Dutchman Wulfert Van Ginkel is now provisionally in the lead of today's special stage, 6'08 ahead of Czech driver Ales Loprais and 9'01 ahead of Czech driver Tomas Tomecek.

Car:

13:52 - Sainz in the lead at km 322
Nr 303, SAINZ/PERIN - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
As the first 5 cars passed km 322, Spaniard Carlos Sainz was in the lead of the day's special stage, 4'07 ahead of his US teammate Mark Miller and 4'52 ahead of Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser.

14:21 - Sainz stopped at km 325
Nr 303, SAINZ/PERIN - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
Clocked in the lead of the special stage at km 322, Spaniard Carlos Sainz is now stopped at km 325 due to mechanical problems. His US teammate Mark Miller has also stopped to help him out.

15:05 - Electronics problems for Sainz
Nr 303, SAINZ/PERIN - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
Stopped at km 325 due to problems with his car's electronics, Spaniard Carlos Sainz is unable to restart at present. His US teammate Mark Miller, who also stopped to give him a helping hand, is back in the race and it is now Portuguese Carlos Sousa who is by the side of former leader in the overall rankings.

15:07 - De Villiers in tow...
Nr 301, DE VILLIERS/VON ZITZEWITZ - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
Victim of an engine fire at km 129 of today's special stage, South African Giniel De Villiers is now trying to get back to the Nema bivouac and is being towed by his fast assistance truck Nr 546.

Bike:

15:21 - Vinters provisional winner of stage 9
Nr 23, JANIS VINTERS - KTM, MARATHON
As the first 7 bikes have now reached the end of this ninth special stage, Latvian Janis Vinters seems -- pending validation -- to be getting his first scratch time victory on the Dakar, 7'31 ahead of Frenchman Cyril Despres and 7'53 ahead of Spaniard Marc Coma.

Car:

15:33 - Schlesser first at CP2
Nr 310, SCHLESSER/DEBRON - BUGGY SCHLESSER, SUPER PRODUCTION
As the first 11 cars passed CP2 (km 387), Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser was timed in the lead of the day's special stage, 1'54 ahead of Frenchman Luc Alphand and 4'15 ahead of his countryman and teammate Stephane Peterhansel.

15:51 - Schlesser provisional winner of the special stage
Nr 310, SCHLESSER/DEBRON - BUGGY SCHLESSER, SUPER PRODUCTION
As the first 3 cars have now reached the end of this ninth special stage, Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser seems -- pending validation -- to win his 2nd stage victory on this 29th Dakar, 13" ahead of the Mitsubishi of Luc Alphand and 4'15 ahead of the one of Stephane Peterhansel, who would now be taking the lead in the overall rankings.

Truck:

16:47 - Van Ginkel in the lead at km 322
Nr 513, VAN GINKEL/TIJSTERMAN/DE ROOY - GINAF
As the first 9 trucks passed km 322, Dutchman Wulfert Van Ginkel was timed provisional leader of the day's special stage, 12'00 ahead of Czech driver Ales Loprais and 13'33 in front of Frenchman Philippe Jacquot.

Bike:

16:49 - Dabrigeon doing repairs...
Nr 191, DIDIER DABRIGEON - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
Victim of a mechanical problem at km 364, French biker Didier Dabrigeon is now trying to repair before pursuing the normal course of today's special stage.

17:33 - Deckers waiting for broom truck
Nr 135, ROB DECKERS - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
Due to mechanical problems he experienced on km 200, Dutchman Rob Deckers being unable to repair is now waiting for the broom truck.

Truck:

17:36 - Van Ginkel provisional winner of the stage
Nr 513, VAN GINKEL/TIJSTERMAN/DE ROOY - GINAF
As the first 5 trucks have now reached the finishing line of this ninth special stage, Dutchman Wulfert Van Ginkel is -- pending validation -- the provisional winner of his first stage in the Dakar, 12'28 ahead of overall rankings leader, Dutchman Hans Stacey, and 13'20 in front of Czech driver Ales Loprais.

Bike:

19:45 - Stage 9 summary
Pending validation, Latvian Janis Vinters (KTM) got his first stage victory in the Dakar in 6h08'51, for scratch time and in the marathon category, 7'31 ahead of Frenchman Francais Cyril Despres (KTM) and 7'53 in front of Marc Coma (KTM). The Spaniard logically stays in the lead of the overall rankings, 54'36 in front of Despres. In the 450cc category, Portuguese Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha) won the stage and on the quad side, Czech pilot Josef Machacek (Yamaha) was the winner of the day

Car:

19:46 - Stage 9 summary
Pending validation, Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser (Buggy Schlesser) won first-placed scratch time in 4h00'46, and got his 15th stage victory in the Dakar, also winning at the same time this ninth special stage in the two-wheel drive category, 13" ahead of his countryman Luc Alphand (Mitsu). Ranking 3rd in today's special stage at 4'14 is Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsu) who benefited from the mechanical ordeal of Volkswagen in this stage and became first in the overall rankings where he now has a 7'50 lead over his teammate Alphand. In the open category, US driver Robby Gordon (Hummer) wins with the 11th-placed scratch time. Finally, in the production category, Frenchman Ronan Chabot (Toyota) is the day's winner.

Truck:

19:47 - Stage 9 summary
Pending validation, Dutchman Wulfert Van Ginkel (Ginaf) won first-placed scratch time in the ninth special with a time of 6h47'47, 12'28 ahead of his compatriot Hans Stacey (Man) and 13'20 ahead of Czech driver Alès Loprais (Tatra). Dutchman Hans Stacey (Man) is now easy on top of the overall rankings with 3h07'11 lead over Russia's Ilgizar Mardeev (Kamaz).

General:

19:49 - 193 vehicles made it through the special stage
At 18h30 GMT, 121 bikes, 57 cars and 15 trucks had made it through the ninth special stage and were heading to or had already arrived at the bivouac in Nema, the finishing point of this ninth stage.

-credit: dakar.com