Once in Salta (at the end of stage 10) after overcoming the link section under chaotic conditions (rain, wind, muddy tracks and traffic jams), Albert Llovera-Àlex Haro and the MD Rallye Team had real trouble to find a place in good conditions for them to recover from the effort made during the stage. The bivouac was completely flodded and the teams had to look for emergency solutions to be able to work in an acceptable environment.
Despite all the issues, the MD Rallye Buggy number 367 was able to start the 11th stage, third stage before last, without problems. Llovera-Haro were ready to take the famous Route 40, to face a day’s route 520 km long, from Salta to Termas de Rio Hondo with a special stage of 194 km.
Llovera-Haro started as they have been doing these past stages. In WP2, approximately 80 km in, they were 23rd in the ranking, but this time they were not able to maintain the pace. Between WP2 and WP3, they lost more than 50 minutes because of a problem with the oil pressure sensor, which occured again later on in the stage, and they were left without the possibility to get a good stage result. At the end, they had to settle for the 66th position (provisional ranking) with a time of 3h40’49; a position that does not follow the progression of the previous days but that keeps them in the race to the finishing podium in Buenos Aires.
Mini remains the make in control, despite the withdrawal of Nani Roma. Nasser Al-Attiyah, Orlando Terranova and Giniel de Villiers had another spectacular fight. They crossed the finish line in Termas de Rio Hondo only a few seconds apart. For the fifth time in this year’s Dakar, the winner was Al-Attiyah (1h53’10”). Terranova +27” and de Villiers +39” were the other two drivers that climbed the winning podium, in the cars category, of the 11th stage.
The stage tracks, very uneven due to the rain, were tough on the buggy; here is what Albert told us about it: A problem with the oil presure sensor ruined the stage for us. Every time we crossed a river, the car would stop. It happened three times and on the third, the car wasn’t starting again. They had to improvise an emergency solution, which worked at first: We dried the sensors’ area with the compressor and we tried to keep the oil pressure sensors apart; the buggy started. But, not far from the finish line, we had to cross a massive river. This time there was no way the buggy would start and we had to wait for the quick roadside assistance. They towed us for the last 18 km.
There is no penalty for being towed, however: The problem has been the time we’ve lost, 1h30 more or less, according to the records we’ve checked. Anyway, during the link section, the car has started again and we made it to the bivouac. We’ll be back for more tomorrow.
Tomorrow, Friday (16th January), the 12th and penultimate stage will take the participants, who are still in the competition (about half of those who started), from Termas de Rio Hondo to the city of Rosario. It will be without a doubt the last big obstacle for the teams to overcome before the finishing podium in Buenos Aires. All together 1024 km, with a special stage of 298 km, and long road sections at the beginning of the stage and at the end before reaching Rosario.
 Press service.
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