Team Dessoude The hostilities recommence... 10.01.2012: DAKAR 2012 -Monday January 9th STAGE 8 - COPIAPO/ANTOFAGASTA **After the traditional rest day, Team Dessoude

DAKAR 2012 -Monday January 9th

  STAGE 8 - COPIAPO/ANTOFAGASTA

**After the traditional rest day, Team Dessoude was heading for Antofagasta, the capital of the Atacama desert, after the longest special stage of the rally.


The team from Normandy had a busy day. Although the Buggies and the N05 prototype have reached the bivouac having set some good performances, maintaining their position in the first part of the results sheet despite some adventures, Frédéric Chavigny and Jean Brucy are still out on the track.**


  André Dessoude looked back over his first day back : “We heard quite rapidly that Frédéric Chavigny, who was climbing up the overall classification and who was lying provisionally in 52nd position, was having problems with the front axle. This was for the least unexpected, as the cars had been totally overhauled during the rest day. The fast service team have taken charge of the car and are working to find a solution. We need to wait for the car and analyse it in more details to confirm the diagnosis.


These rigorous tracks are ruthless for men and machines alike, and the Dakar remains one of the most difficult events in Rally Raids ; this morning there were around 123 retirements, which underscores its extreme nature. The two buggies of Isabelle Patissier and Thierry Magnaldi were on the pace and the battle in the two-wheel drive category is raging, although unfortunately, they have not had much luck. As for our Chinese beginner, Jihong Zhou, on his first Dakar, is 27th overall, up among some real veterans of the event.


Tomorrow is another day, as we like to say on the Dakar, and we are waiting for the Atacama prototype to arrive


Nr 320 Isabelle Patissier - Thierry Delli Zotti / Buggy Oryx (Ess)
26th in the Stage (+ 1'12'22) – 21st Overall (+ 6'43'02) – 5th two-wheel drive

  A long day for the Buggy shared by Isabelle and Thierry : "This very long special stage was not very pleasant, as we were really thrown around for 500 kilometres. Once again we started with the trucks, so between managing the dust and the behaviour of the trucks, who are fast on a straight line but slow when the track is winding, it was not very pleasant.

On top of that, we had to take care not to get any punctures, as although there was no real time to gain, there was plenty to be lost. Each day has its share of problems, but Thierry and I are, to say the least, pleased to have finished this stage… one more crossed off ! "


Nr 331 Thierry Magnaldi - François Borsotto / Buggy Oryx (Diesel)
27the in the Stage (+ 1'13'52) – 23rd Overall (+6'59'31) – 6th two-wheel drive

  Thierry Magnaldi was frustrated after today’s stage : " The team had done a lot of work, and the buggy was competitive and pleasant to drive, so we were looking forward to a big day. .. We started off very fast, and we overtook our nearest rivals and those notorious trucks, before getting a puncture at the rear…

We stopped, changed the wheel, got going again and of course, we were in with the trucks again. It should be noted that the trucks are just as fast as the cars…. Having overtaken them again, we had another puncture, at the front this time, but when we got out, we were shocked – I must have badly attached the jack, and it had disappeared from the cockpit…

So we had to do our best, change the wheel and face the trucks again. Of course, it all happened again and we had our third puncture of the day. Luckily Isabelle was just behind us, and helped us with our third wheel-change of the day. We finished in survival mode, due to having no more spare wheels. Overall, we were ahead and we finished 30 minutes down, so yes, this evening I am disappointed..."


Nr 335 Zhou Jihong - Liao Min / Proto Dessoude 05
30th in the Stage (+ 1'20'11) – 27th Overall (+ 7'42'27)

  Jihong continues his excellent Dakar and is now the leading Chinese driver in the overall classification : “The special stage was long but fast, with many changes of pace. Some wide, fast tracks where you had to let the horsepower talk, and some awkward rocky sections, which were rough and where you could easily get a puncture, so you had to take care.


Although long, the stage was fast and was unlikely to see big gaps in the finish times. So we made sure that we looked after the car. This evening, I am pleased to be the top Chinese driver in the overall classification, but I am not forgetting that there are still another six days of racing."

 

André DESSOUDE- Géraldine DESHAYES ,Race Com photos