by Mike K-H

South Africans enjoyed the last-minute insertion of a tricky special stage, giving them second places in bike, car and quad categories.

Liaison 21 km - Special 43 km - Liaison 510 km. Total 574 km

Tension is mounting as the Dakar crawls closer to Africa. A highly technical endurance type of circuit, somewhat of a curved ball, was thrown at the competitors on the second day of the 2003 Telefonica Dakar Rally, when it was announced quite late that a 43km special stage was included in today’s 574km between Narbonne in France and Castellón in Spain.

Motorcycles

Alfie Cox (2) on his 660 Gauloises Natro Freight Nashua KTM finished second, a mere 15 seconds behind his teammate Richard Sainct (3) of France, ahead of Cyril Despres (7), his other French teammate. Cox was ecstatic and could hardly believe his position: “I prefer the tough dunes and the difficult long stages, not the enduro racing on this big 660, but I am very happy to be well placed amongst the front riders”.

Last year's winner, Gauloises KTM team member Fabrizio Meoni, was satisfied with his 6th place. “I’m not an Enduro specialist so I didn’t go fast in the technical tight stuff. For me the race really starts in Africa. Every year I’m behind the others in Europe. It doesn’t matter. If I could ride quickly here I would. There is time to be won but so much you can lose. My bike and myself, we prefer Africa."

Cars

Giniel de Villiers (217) and his French navigator, Pascal Maimon, surprised many when he finished second overall in the car category with his Proudly South African Nissan Hardbody. He was 17 seconds behind Stephane Peterhansel (206) in a Pajero, who drove a Nissan last year. De Villiers made it very clear that he is determined to finish the race next to the Red Sea, but he admits that finishing second today puts him in a good pscychological position.

Four of the Nissans are in the top ten currently, with the other places shared by Mitsubishi, and BMW. With one of the best navigators next to him, and his fine touch and gut-feel for a car, Giniel de Villiers has the skill to perform well for South Africa in this race.

Former Dakar winner and World Rally Champion, Ari Vatanen (204) from Finland and his navigator Tina Thorner proved their point by finishing fifth, three places better than their teammates Thierry Delavergne (210) of France and his navigator Jacky du Bois. Kenjiro Shinozuka (201) of Japan, and navigator Thierry Delli-Zotti drove cautiously, deciding on the no-risk strategy through the muddy track, and finished 10th.

Quads

In the Experimental Class Vicus van Deventer (171) on a DHL DS 650 Bombardier quad gained another south African second place, 1min 39sec behind Czechoslovakian Josef Machacek (170) racing an 850 CZE Yamaha Fire Blade quad. “The battle will be in the desert and the endurance and reliability of the Bombardier should definitely prove superior,” said a very confident Van Deventer. The stage is set for a battle of the quad giants.

Trucks

The Truck category was completely dominated by the De Rooy family. Johannes De Rooy (DAF – 409) finished the special in a final time of 51min28s, beating his son Gerardus (DAF – 417) by 38 seconds. Third place went to Germany’s Klaus Bauerle (Mercedes – 403).

OVERALL POSITIONS after Stage 2

Motorcycles

Cars

Have fun. 

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