Brake issue a drag for De Villiers
SOUTH AFRICAN driver Giniel de Villiers and his German partner Dirk von Zitzewitz consolidated their third overall position in the fifth stage of the Dakar Rally yesterday, finishing fourth in the 172km fifth stage between Arequipa (Peru) and Arica (Chile).
Though the pair still found themselves 33 minutes and 50 seconds off leaders Stephane Peterhansel and Jean Paul Cottret, the unpredictable nature of the race dictates they are still in with a fighting chance of overall victory.
De Villiers is the only South African left in the car section as Imperial Toyota SA teammates Duncan Vos and Rob Howie had to withdraw on Tuesday, due to a seriously damaged roll cage.
Yesterday’s stage was won by Spain’s Nani Roma and Michel Perin of France in a Mini, finishing ahead of their team-mates and overall leaders Peterhansel and Cottret.
The competition for stage honours was hotly contested, with just one minute and 51 seconds separating De Villiers/Von Zitzewitz in fourth and Roma/Perin in first. There were no changes in the top 10 overall positions.
De Villiers said he enjoyed Wednesday’s stage and was able to take in some of the scenery, despite having minor problems with his Toyota Hilux.
“It was not a long stage, but quite fast and twisty at the beginning,” he said. “We had a small problem with the rear brakes. We lost a bit of rear brake, so we’ll have to look at what the problem is tonight, but other than that it was a nice stage, and beautiful along the beach.”
Von Zitzewitz shared his driver’s sentiments: “Today was a short stage, not very hard on the car – almost a small rest day,” the German said.
“We have a small problem with the rear brakes getting too hot, but the team is doing all they can to fix the problem. Today (Wednesday) we could have done a bit better, but we lost time behind Guerlain Chicherit, who was not willing to let us through. Otherwise a very good and enjoyable day for us.”
Two people were killed and seven injured in a head-on collision between a Dakar Rally support vehicle and a taxi near Peru’s border with Chile.
The incident happened at about 9.30pm, local time, on Wednesday evening, 10 kilometres from the frontier.
One of two taxis hit the support vehicle head-on while a second cab overturned as its driver tried to avoid the collision. Two people in the first taxi, including the driver, were killed and seven people, four of them Peruvian, were injured.
Three of the injured were in the rally support vehicle. All were taken to hospital for treatment.
Some 59 people, including 20 spectators, have lost their lives in the race over the years but organisers have been keen to play down the dangers.
This year, around 150 security staff as well as 60 doctors and surgeons are on hand, backed up by five helicopters and 10 medical vehicles, in case of emergencies. – Sapa & Sapa-AFP