The Marathon Stage Has Begun, Pascal on 14th

7.1.2016

For two days the Dakar Rally crews have now been without their mechanics or any other help from the outside. On the schedule is the marathon stage, in which the crews have only themselves to rely on. Moreover, the 4th stage took the competitors to the mountains, over three thousand metres of altitude and higher. However, Pascal de Baar gave an excellent performance, losing only 14 minutes on the winner de Rooy and finishing on 14th place.

In addition to this, the start and finish in Jujuy was above four thousand metres. It was not a great start for the Dutch pilot on the Renault constructed by MKR Technology though. At the first checkpoint he was on twentieth place, but then he picked up steam and overtook six opponents. He was the fourteenth to cross the finishing line. “Pascal did a great job again. This time he had the instruction to spare the material a little, because this being the marathon stage we wouldn’t be able to get to him after the stage to perform the usual service, so any risk could backfire. However, Pascal gave an exemplary performance. I believe that after the fifth stage we’ll meet in bivouac again,“ stated the main constructor Mario Kress. 

A more careful drive enabled the crew to reach the finish without trouble, but made it drop by one position in the overall ranking. Currently, Pascal de Rooy is on eleventh place. However, the stage was a lucky one for the former Dakar champion, de Baar’s fellow Dutch Gerard de Rooy, who recorded his first win this year. The lead has also somewhat changed. The trucks category is now led by another Dutch, Pieter Versluis. 

Meanwhile, the service area was moved from Argentina to Bolivia, and the crews will follow during stage five. Finally, they will all meet at the bivouac in Uyuni, where the stage finishes. Nevertheless, first the competitors will have to tackle 642 kilometres, out of which 327 will be measured. Once again, not only technology, but also the racers’ bodies will have to withstand immense pressure. The track is going to take them to the mountains and an altitude of more than 4,500 metres, which could easily give many crew members a headache.