Toyota relief as stage cancelled
FLOODING: CONDITIONS FORCED ORGANISERS INTO MOVE
On one hand, the Toyota Gazoo Racing SA team were happy to have an additional day off, but on the other they were rueing a missed opportunity after yesterday’s ninth stage of the Dakar Rally was cancelled due to flooding.
Though the schedule included only one rest day last week, all crews had a chance to recover again due to poor weather conditions which forced organisers to scrap the leg between Tupiza and Salta, as the race moved from Bolivia to Argentina.
“While we’re happy to get an extra day of rest instead of taking on stage nine, we are also disappointed to lose an opportunity to make a difference in this year’s race,” said Toyota Gazoo team principal Glyn Hall.
Though all three drivers were gunning it in the chase, the local squad continued to trail the lightweight Peugeot buggies after Sunday’s 498km eighth stage at high altitude.
Spaniard Carlos Sainz retained his overall lead, with Peugeot team-mate Stephane Peterhansel of France settling in third position.
Nasser al-Attiyah of Qatar held on to second place in the general classification, spearheading the Toyota Gazoo outfit, though he was more than an hour behind Sainz with five stages left.
Dutch driver Bernhard ten Brinke was in fourth place overall, and Toyota Gazoo team-mate Giniel de Villiers of South Africa was lying fifth.
Further down the field, South African navigator Rob Howie and Argentine driver Lucio Alvarez slipped back to 15th position, while the SA pairing of Hennie de Klerk and co-driver Gerhard Schutte were clinging to 32nd spot overall.
In the bike division, South African rider David Thomas was in 45th place, followed by compatriots Donovan van der Langenberg (55th), Willem du Toit (58th) and Gerry van der Byl (98th).
The race was expected to resume with today’s 10th stage between Salta and Belen.