VW 1-2-3 but will the sequence stay the same?
author: Leon Botha
Fact is that Volkswagens currently are lying in an almost unassailable 1-2-3 before the final 181km stage of the 2011 Dakar Rally – question is, will they finish in the current order?
I have no doubt that if nothing dramatic happens Al-Attiyah will win the event as he will not be interested in any team orders whatsoever. His money paid for the drive or at least a big part of it and he will want full value.
My fear lies slightly down the order where a few words can actually change Giniel and Carlos’ positions – for the sake of a few more sales in Spain and for that matter Europe – but that may then also be the end of the legendary value so generously linked to Sainz’ name? This is however pure speculation on my part with no substance or rumour as base. Let us therefore hope that Giniel will be able to drive the 181km stage that is left, without interference.
The BMW team once again failed while they deserved a better result. The cars were incredible with both Peterhansel and Holowczyc, but especially the former, being there in the faces of the mighty Volkswagen team all the time.
Peterhansel summed up his 2011 Dakar in a sentence last night when he said inter alia, “...I went into battle to push hard. But when luck is not with you, it is not with you.”
We will obviously have to wait for Dolly Parton to jump up the stage, wait for her natural wobble to stop and then sing before we officially declare Volkswagen the winners of the event – can you imagine all three of them grinding to a very unsuspected halt in the stage due to a part that decided it had enough? Oh my .......!!!!!
I am tempted to say that not even the best of Rally gods have that sort of pull but then many years ago I saw Jan Hettema grinding to a halt within sight of the final control after leading a rally comfortably. Diff seized – no way a screaming driver and a crying navigator could push that “little Chev” over the finish line! Carlos Sainz lost the world championship also in sight of the finish line not so long ago during the Rally Britain!
So let’s rather wait and see if my prediction before the Dakar that Giniel had to watch for Al-Attiyah rather than Sainz comes true?
|
No
|
Driver
|
Navigator
|
Make
|
Total
|
Variance
|
Penalty
|
|
1
|
AL-ATTIYAH (QAT)
|
GOTTSCHALK (DEU)
|
VOLKSWAGEN
|
19:59:30
|
-
|
-
|
|
2
|
DE VILLIERS (ZAF)
|
VON ZITZEWITZ (DEU)
|
VOLKSWAGEN
|
20:47:51
|
00:48:21
|
-
|
|
3
|
SAINZ (ESP)
|
CRUZ (ESP)
|
VOLKSWAGEN
|
21:20:46
|
01:21:16
|
-
|
|
4
|
PETERHANSEL (FRA)
|
COTTRET (FRA)
|
BMW
|
21:40:59
|
01:41:29
|
-
|
|
5
|
HOLOWCZYC (POL)
|
FORTIN (BEL)
|
BMW
|
00:10:04
|
04:10:34
|
-
|
|
6
|
MILLER (USA)
|
PITCHFORD (ZAF)
|
VOLKSWAGEN
|
00:52:48
|
04:53:18
|
-
|
|
7
|
LEAL DOS SANTOS (PRT)
|
FIUZA (PRT)
|
BMW
|
02:39:07
|
06:39:37
|
-
|
|
8
|
LAVIEILLE (FRA)
|
POLATO (FRA)
|
NISSAN
|
03:48:27
|
07:48:57
|
00:36:00
|
|
9
|
SPINELLI (BRA)
|
HADDAD (BRA)
|
MITSUBISHI
|
04:19:47
|
08:20:17
|
-
|
|
10
|
KAHLE (DEU)
|
SCHUENEMANN (DEU)
|
SMG
|
11:00:10
|
15:00:40
|
-
|
|
11
|
VAN LOON (NLD)
|
SCHOLTALBERS (NLD)
|
MITSUBISHI
|
11:15:03
|
15:15:33
|
-
|
|
12
|
MITSUHASHI (JPN)
|
GUEHENNEC (FRA)
|
TOYOTA
|
15:17:02
|
19:17:32
|
-
|
|
13
|
CHABOT (FRA)
|
PILLOT (FRA)
|
SMG
|
16:46:58
|
20:47:28
|
00:56:00
|
|
14
|
KOERICH (BRA)
|
CAVASSIN (BRA)
|
MITSUBISHI
|
17:29:09
|
21:29:39
|
-
|
|
15
|
ALVAREZ (ARG)
|
BELARDE (ARG)
|
SUBARU
|
20:39:26
|
00:39:56
|
-
|
|
16
|
PATISSIER (FRA)
|
DELLI ZOTTI (FRA)
|
BUGGY
|
21:19:57
|
01:20:27
|
-
|
|
17
|
THOMASSE (FRA)
|
LARROQUE (FRA)
|
BUGGY MD
|
21:51:50
|
01:52:20
|
-
|
|
18
|
FOJ (ESP)
|
JATON (ARG)
|
TOYOTA
|
22:27:47
|
02:28:17
|
-
|
|
19
|
COX (ZAF)
|
SCHRODER (DEU)
|
NISSAN
|
22:35:15
|
02:35:45
|
09:00:00
|
|
20
|
SCHOTT (DEU)
|
SCHMIDT (DEU)
|
BMW
|
02:59:10
|
06:59:40
|
|
|
|
|
