Stage 7 Iquique to Antofagasta notes

Stage 7 - Iquique to Antofagasta
Friday, January 8

* Liaison : 37 km
* Speciale : 600 km
* Liaison : 4 km
* Total : 641 km

Breaking news per ASO Dakar website:
Times given in G.M.T. -3

22:48 - Car
Stage 7 summary

Pending validation by the race marshalls, Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) gets his second stage victory in this 32nd Dakar, his sixth stage victory in any Dakar by arriving 3'29 ahead of French driver Stephane Peterhansel (BMW)and 4'21 ahead of his teammate Spain's Carlos Sainz (VW)... No worries however for "El Matador" in the overall standings as the two-time rally world champion in 90 and 92 now has - mid-race - an 11'03 lead on Al-Attiyah and a 22'06 on his teammate US driver Mark Miller, which keeps three Race Touaregs in the three first places in the standings! As for "Peter", he is now 2h03'10 behind the raid leaders in the standings...

22:44 - Bike
Stage 7 summary

Pending validation by the race marshalls, Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) gets his second stage victory in this 32nd Dakar, his 22nd in a Dakar. With a time of 6h34'14, the already comfortable leader in the overall standings beat his biggest rival, Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM)by 29" and his countryman David Fretigne (Yamaha) by 5'00. By a way of consequence, at mid-race, Cyril Despres is more than comfortable leader with a 1h06'50 lead on Spain's Marc Coma (KTM) and a 1h20'08 lead on Portugal's Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha)...

18:35 - Truck
Stage 7 summary

Pending validation by the race marshalls, five-Dakar winner Russian driver Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) has won today his sixth stage victory in seven special stages on this 2010 Dakar and his 53rd in total on a Dakar (8), which allows him to equate the absolute record held by Stephane Peterhansel! At the finish Chagin arrived today 25'35 ahead of his teammate and countryman Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz)... In the standings mid-race, the "Tsar" Chagin is leisurly in the lead with now a 1h03'46 lead over his closest contender and faithful lieutenant Kabirov. Needless to say that Chagin can now dream of equating another record: the six Dakar final victory record held by Czech driver Karel Loprais.

18:30 - Quad
Stage 7 summary

Pending confirmation by the race marshalls, Argentine rider Alejandro Patronelli (Yamaha) wins today his second stage on the 2010 Dakar by being fastest on this seventh stage of the 32nd edition of the Dakar. With a time of 8h10'22, the oldest of the Patronelli brothers arrived 3'30 ahead of his younger brother Marcos (Yamaha) and 30'13 ahead of Polish rider Rafal Sonik (Yamaha)... Hence, in the standings, at mid-race, Marcos Patronelli is now way ahead with a 2h22'25 lead on his older brother Alejandro and a 4h59'53 lead on his countryman Sebastian Halpern (Yamaha).

18:25 - Car
302 - Gordon back on track

Victime of a mechanical problem, US driver Robby Gordon (Hummer) has to stop for almost two hours and repair on km 480 of today's special stage. The NASCAR driver has just gone back on track and is now driving at normal speed toward the finish line.

18:00 - Truck
501 - Chagin final equals "Peter"'s record...

The first two trucks have just completed today's stage 7 and Russian driver Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) wins the day 25'35 ahead of his teammate and countryman Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz). By a way of consequence, the "Tsar" takes off in the lead and is now 1h03'46 ahead of his first lieutenant. But more importantly this stage victory allows him to 'finally' equal Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) and co-hold the record of stage victories on the Dakar with 53 wins for both men.

17:15 - Quad
277 - Mission accomplished for Alejandro...

The two first quads have reached the finish of stage 7 and it is - logically - Argentine rider Alejandro Patronelli (Yamaha), en in the lead since the very first CP of the day - who gets here his second stage victory of the rally raid 3'30 ahead of his younger brother Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha).... A performance that - combined with the misfortunes of his countryman Santamarina(Can-Am) today - allow the older of the Patronelli brothers to get to second place in the overall standings but already 2h22'25 behind his "baby brother", who remains more than ever leader in the standings...

16:35 - Quad
258 - Third time for Declerck at km 509

The five first have now cleared km 509 of the day's special stage and if Argentine rider Alejandro Patronelli (Yamaha) is still in the lead 3'28 ahead of his younger brother Marcos (Yamaha), it is now French rider Christophe Declerck (Polaris) who is in third place provisionally 32'47 behind the leader.

16:00 - Car
306 - Al-Attiyah switches to sixth... victory!

The first four cars have just reached the finish of stage 7th and Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) is the winner; this is his sixth stage victory in a Dakar, his first one in 2010... The Qatari arrived 3'29 ahead of Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) and 4'21 ahead of the standings leader Carlos Sainz (VW). More importantly by beating his US teammate Mark Miller by 8'40, Nasser is now solid holder of the second place in the overall standings 11'03 behind Sainz, but 11'03 ahead of Miller.

15:50 - Car
306 - Al-Attiyah on the road to a first stage victory in 2010

The first three cars have cleared the km 581 marker of today's special stage and Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) is still in the lead. More importantly, the Qatari driver now has a 3'08 lead over Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) and a 4'47 lead over the standings leader Spain's Carlos Sainz (VW).

15:45 - Truck
505 - First warning signal for Kamaz!

If leader in the standings and Russian driver Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) seems on the right track to win a sixth stage in this 32nd Dakar edition - he had a 1'23 lead on his first lieutenant Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) at CP5 (km 355) -, his teammate and countryman Ilgizar Mardeev (Kamaz) has been stranded for more than 90 minutes at km 257 of the day's special stage and is doing repairs.

15:20 - Quad
277 - Patronelli slows down

Probably informed of the misfortunes of his main rival of the day, Spaniard Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha) who ranked third in the overall standings at the start this morning, Argentinean rider Alejandro Patronelli (Yamaha) a slowed down the pace on the track and only had a 2'03 lead over his younger brother Marcos (Yamaha) and an 18'17 lead over Polish rider Rafal Sonik (Yamaha).

15:15 - Car
306 - Al-Attiyah drives the nail home...

The first four cars have cleared km 509 of the day's special stage and Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) is still in the lead with best provisional time now 1'47 ahead of Frenchman Stepahne Peterhansel (BMW) 4'46 ahead of the leader in the overall standings Spain's Carlos Sainz (VW).

15:00 - Bike
12 - Provisional third place for Fretigne

More bikes have now reached the end of this seventh stage and French rider David Fretigne (Yamaha) is provisional third best time of the day 5'00 behind the day's winner and - more than ever - leader in the standings Cyril Despres (KTM).

14:55 - Bike
2 - Best provisional time for Despres

The two first bikes have now reached the end of today's stage 7 and it is for the time being French rider Cyril Despres (KTM) who has the best time 29" ahead of Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM).

14:50 - Car
306 - Al-Attiyah takes the lead at km 448!

The first five cars have passed the km 448 marker of today's special stage and Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) now holds the best provisional time 44" ahead of Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) and 5'11 ahead of the leader in the overall standings Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW).

14:30 - Car
306 - The battle rages inside the VW clan...

Respectiveky ranking second and third of the overall standings in the car category this morning at the start of the special stage and only 2'17 apart, both teammates Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) and Mark Miller (VW) are not letting one another off lightly. It seems like the US driver would have blocked the Qatari on today's track before the latter finally managed to pass him after losing precious seconds - if not minutes - stuck behind his teammate!...

14:20 - Quad
256 - 52' delay for Gonzalez Corominas at CP5

Third in the overall standings at the start of the stage this morning but victim of a breakdown at km 339, Spanish rider Juan Manuel Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha) just cleared CP5 (km 355), 52'04 behind stage leader Alejandro Patronelli (Yamaha). The Spaniard is therefore losing - at this point - his thrid place on the podium to the benefit of Alejandro.

14:15 - Bike
1 - Coma back in the lead

The first four bikes have now reached km 509 of today's special stage and Spaniard Marc coma (KTM) is again granted best time 13" ahead of French rider David Fretigne (Yamaha) and 3'13 ahead of the leader in the overall standings Cyril Despres (KTM).

13:45 - Quad
277 - The objective is still reachable for Alejandro

The first five quads have reached CP5 (km 355) of today's stage. Argentina's Alejandro Patronelli (Yamaha) still leads the stage, 3'19 ahead of his "little brother" Marcos (Yamaha), 21'26 ahead of Poland's Rafal Sonik (Yamaha)... Moreover, Alejandro Patronelli's main rival to access the top 3 of the overall standings, Spain's Juan Manuel Gonzales Corominas (Yamaha), had to stop at km 339 where he has already spent 10 minutes.

13:35 - Car
301 - "Peter" still in the lead at CP5

The first four cars have reached CP5 (km355) on today's stage. Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) has the best provisional time with a 1'45 lead over Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) and 4'17 ahead of US driver Mark Miller (VW).

13:20 - Bike
12 - Fretigne in the lead at CP6

As the first 5 bikes have cleared CP6(km448), French rider David Fretigne (Yamaha) is now best provisional time 38" ahead of Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM) and - hence - 1'22 ahead of "Chaleco" (Aprilia).

13:00 - Bike
1 - Coma back in the lead at CP6

As the three first bikes have now reached CP6 located at km 448 of today's special stage, Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM) was timed with the best provisional clock. The title holder was 44" ahead of Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo (Aprilia) and 3'38 ahead of the leader in the overall standings Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM).

12:20 - Bike
12 - Fretigne provisionally second fastest at CP5

The first 12 bikes have now passed CP5 located at the km 355 marker of the day's special stage and Frenchman David Fretigne (Yamaha) is now second best time 2'40 behind the leader "Chaleco" Lopez Contardo (Aprilia), but 52" ahead of Ullevalseter (KTM) now ranking third.

12:00 - Bike
9 - "Chaleco" best time at CP5

The first five bikes have now cleared CP5 located at km 355 of today's special stage and it is now Chilean rider Francisco Lopez Contardo (Aprilia) who is in the lead with best provisional time. "Chaleco" is 3'32 ahead of Norwegian rider Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM), and 4'28 ahead of Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM).

11:30
Awaiting km 355...

After the race neutralisation foreseen on today's special stage between km 177 and km 228, the leaders in the four categories are now back on the against-the-clock section and are now racing towards CP5 (km 355) of today's special stage...

11:10 - Car
301 - "Peter" takes the lead on km 141

The first 8 cars have cleared km 141 of today's special stage and it is again Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) who is in the lead 2'12 ahead of Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW), and 5'17 ahead of US driver Mark Miller (VW).

11:00 - Truck
501 - Chagin... as usual

After winning 5 of the 6 special stages already in this 32nd edition of the Dakar and ending up solid leader in the overall standings, Russia's Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) checked in the lead at CP2 (km 79) of today's special stage. The "Tsar" was respectively 4'39 and 4'43 ahead of his two countrymen and teammates Ilgizar Mardeev second and Firdaus Kabirov third.

10:25 - Car
306 - Al-Attiyah in the lead at CP2

The first 8 cars have now cleared CP2 located at the km 79 marker of today's special stage and it is now Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) who is in the lead with the best time 13" ahead of Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) and 2'46 ahead of his teammate Spanish driver Carlos Sainz (VW).

10:00 - Car
301 - Peterhansel in the lead at CP1

As the first 5 cars have now cleared CP1 (km 63) of the day's special stage, Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (BMW)gets the best provisional time just 6 short seconds ahead of Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) and 2'19 ahead of the leader in the standings Spain's Carlos Sainz (VW).

09:35 - Truck
501 - IT'S A GO FOR TRUCKS!

Starting 11th of the car/truck pack, the leader in the overall standings in the truck category, Russian driver Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) started the day's special stage at 9:22AM as per schedule. The "Tsar" was followed 7 minutes later by his countryman and teammate Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) who - for the anecdote - started 18th of the car/truck pack just before US driver Robby Gordon and his Hummer.

09:30 - Quad
277 - Alejandro has already gained 14'01"...

The first 8 quads just cleared CP2 (km 79) of today's special stage and Argentinean Alejandro Patronelli (Yamaha) is still in the lead with the best time 3'20 of his brother Marcos (Yamaha) and 9'49 ahead of his countryman Santamaroina (Can-Am). More importantly Alejandro already had a 14'01 lead at CP2 on his main rival for third place on the podium, Spanish rider Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha).

09:05 - Car
301 - IT'S A GO FOR CARS!

The winner of yesterday's sixth stage, Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) has started the day's special stage at 9:03 as per schedule and was followed two minutes later by the leader in the overall standings, Spanish driver Carlos Sainz.

08:55 - Quad
277 - Alejandro Patronelli: his mission... third place

After a superb return in yesterday's stage 6, Argentine rider Alejandro Patronelli (Yamaha) intends to get back on the provisional podium before the rest day and to this end he must regain about 40' today from Spanish rider Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha). It is therefore logical to find the older of the Patronelli brothers in the lead of today's special stage as the three first quads have now cleared CP1 (km 63). Alejandro was ahead of his younger brother and leader in the general standings Marcos (Yamaha) by 3'29, and ahead of his countryman Jorge Miguel Santamarina (Can-Am) by 8'54.

08:35 - Bike
12 - Provisional second fastest time for Fretigne at CP2

Three more bikes have now cleared CP2 (km 79) of the day's special stage and it is now French rider David Fretigne (Yamaha) who gets provisionally the second fastest time 1'14 behind the Norwegian stage leader so far Ullevalseter (KTM), but also 1'13 ahead of this teammate and fellow countryman Olivier Pain (Yamaha), who gets provisional third place.

108:30 - Bike
4 - Stable gap at CP2

The first 5 bikes have now cleared CP2 (km 79) of today's special stage and Norwegian rider Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM) is still in the lead with the best time 2'36 ahead of "Chaleco" Lopez Contardo (Aprilia) and 3'52 ahead of Portugal's Rodrigues (Yamaha).

08:15 - Bike
4 - Ullevalseter in the lead at CP1

The first 8 bikes have now cleared CP1 (km63) of the day's special stage and Norwegian rider Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM) is in the lead 2'20 ahead of Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo (Aprilia) and 3'47 ahead of Portuguese rider Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha).

07:25 - Bike
1 - READY, STEADY, GO!

Good morning to all. At the end of stage 6 yesterday 235 teams - 99 bikes, 16 quads, 78 cars and 42 trucks - were granted permission to start today's stage 7. Yesterday's winner in the bike category, Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM) kicked off the day's stage at 7:10AM as per schedule. The title holder was followed two minutes later by the leader in the overall standings, Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM).

21:11
STAGE 7 : IQUIQUE -- ANTOFAGASTA

641 km are on the menu of stage 7 including 600 km (!) against the clock, i.e. the longest stage in this 32nd edition. No chance of boredom however for the contenders who will have to face the most versatile route of the Dakar this year. The stage will start with 40km of sand dunes; then contenders will hit brittle or even very brittle terrain and even a 3km "Salar" (salt flat) they will need to cross and where it will be hard to drive faster than 10 km/h!... Other peculiarity of stage 7 is the neutralization of the race at km 177 for a 50-km liaison on asphalt to drive around a natural reserve. The contenders will start racing again at km 227, with a fast track cut off by windy sections and some off-track on rocks... In a nutshell a particularly varied menu with a lot of spicy parts just before the rest day, which allowed the organizers to push the end to 6:00PM the next day so that a maximum number of contenders would have the opportunity to reach Antofagasta within the time limits and go on with their rally raid.

-source: aso