Wednesday 8th January 2014

Dakar 2014 - highs and lows

The Minis continue their dominance but problems afflict Race2Recovery

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As the Dakar rally enters its fourth day, there's already plenty of drama. Reigning champions Mini are leading the way but this year's rally is already over for two of the Race2Recovery team.

Joan Roma is leading. He's ecstatic

The Dakar is being led by Joan "Nani" Roma is his yellow Mini ALL4 Racing (officially, definitely not a Countryman) after being quickest on the third day. Orlando Terranova finished fourth for the day and sits second overall, with Nasser Al Attiyah in third after taking seventh on the 301km (187 miles) from San Rafael to San Juan in Argentina. A Mini 1-2-3 as it stands then, and there are 11 entered too.

Today sees the teams tackle a mammoth 868km (539 miles) stage through Argentina, leaving San Juan destined for Chilechito. They'll face rivers and ravines along the way, with plenty of wide open spaces to make overtaking easier.

However, the Race2Recovery team will enter the fourth day without two of its cars. Both its Wildcats have succumbed to problems; the first car of Ben Gott and Philip Gillespie suffered a mechanical failure with Tony Harris and Quin Evans's car rolling down a sand dune. Despite being able to continue, the latter Wildcat had to be retired on safety grounds because of a damaged roll cage.

R2R Wildcats are out but the T4 truck continues

But the R2R truck soldiers on! The T4 support vehicle will remain in the Dakar even without the Wildcats to support. We'll keep you updated on that car's progress as it continues.

Even with the retirements, Race2Recovery has raised over £250,000 for Tedworth House Personnel Recovery Centre and Help for Heroes. Top work guys, all the best for next year and the upcoming Defender Challenge too.

[Turbobanana]

That's a terrific picture, but does highlight how ugly the car is.

ETA: The Mini, that is. The Bowler looks great!

[arkenphel]

The Mini doesn't look too bad. How much does the racing car have in common with the road cars, I wonder.

You think a product based on a Land Rover would be more reliable than a lifestyle product.

Edited by arkenphel on Wednesday 8th January 15:41

[Krikkit]

arkenphel said:

The Mini doesn't look too bad. How much does the racing car have in common with the road cars, I wonder.

You think a product based on a Land Rover would be more reliable than a lifestyle product.

Dakar cars, being honest, have nothing in common with their road-going bretheren. They're at least as different as a WRC car is to the standard one too.

[Turbobanana]

Krikkit said:

Dakar cars, being honest, have nothing in common with their road-going bretheren. They're at least as different as a WRC car is to the standard one too.

Apparently they're bigger in every dimension - more of a Maxi (remember them?). And Carbon Fibre, of course.

[dantournay]

arkenphel said:

How much does the racing car have in common with the road cars, I wonder.

Last year the Eurosport commentators said that the only stock parts on the rally Countryman are the headlights & door handles. I'd imagine it's the same this year.

[RumpleFugly]

This shows you just how much bigger the Mini is than it's road going counterpart!

[cptsideways]

Almost all of the top spec cars feature virtually nothing mechanical to their "branding" its just a plastic shell over a space frame buggy. Much like a radio controlled car.


Now the production class is a different matter..... Sp PH lets have something on that category please, its at least something we can we all buy from a dealership. Its usually won by Toyota with their Landcruisers.

[Jordan210]

This shows in a bit more detail the size difference and how they build the car

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf1zsXB-N-4

[garypotter]

Thank you Jordan for that brilliant clip,

Bad news for the guys at R2R, hope they are planning next years entry. Keep the news coming

[TransverseTight]

Lol. Basically it's a smaller version of a monster truck with some mouldings taken from a mini instead of a ford f150 / chevvy zr71.

Ie space frame, big engine with carbon covers.

Is this an option in the brochure

[Clivey]

It all seems a bit ridiculous when a manufacturer like Mini advertises their cars by plonking a bodyshell which resembles their production models onto a bespoke chassis for motorsport (I know this happens in WRC, touring cars any many other series too). - I just think it'd be a lot more interesting if these types of competition cars had to be based on production models with a limit on what could be modified to make them "competition ready".

[cptsideways]

Clivey said:

It all seems a bit ridiculous when a manufacturer like Mini advertises their cars by plonking a bodyshell which resembles their production models onto a bespoke chassis for motorsport (I know this happens in WRC, touring cars any many other series too). - I just think it'd be a lot more interesting if these types of competition cars had to be based on production models with a limit on what could be modified to make them "competition ready".

That is exactly what the T2 Class is, Toyota nearly always win it with the Landcruiser, Previously finishing just a few hours down over the go faster class. Thats quite an impressive feat.

[Clivey]

cptsideways said:

That is exactly what the T2 Class is, Toyota nearly always win it with the Landcruiser, Previously finishing just a few hours down over the go faster class. Thats quite an impressive feat.

Indeed, it is far more impressive…but to me it should be the "main class", rather than a bunch of buggies that are about as relevant as a space hopper.

Touring cars and WRC should be the same; let each manufacturer prove that they build the best car rather than hide behind a load of marketing bull.