A long wait for his first participation
This year's Dakar was the first for 49-year-old Pascal Terry, an avid sportsman who practised squash, cycling, and horseriding. He enjoyed motorsports as well and had recently participated in rallies based in Tunisia and Morocco, saddled upon a Yamaha 450 motorbike identical to that used this week in Argentina.

"The ... [ more ]

''We've always known that he is an absolute star''
Toni Gardemeister will take the start of the Monte Carlo Rally later this month at the wheel of an Abarth Grande Punto run by Italian team Astra Racing.

Gardemeister, who finished second overall on the Monte Carlo Rally in 2005, has enjoyed a long association with Astra over the years and is a strong candidate ... [ more ]

Hoping to use Monte Carlo experience
Peugeot factory driver Stephane Sarrazin will be taking the start of the Monte Carlo Rally in a 207 S2000 run by Peugeot Sport France.

The Le Mans ace is also an accomplished rally driver, having won the 2004 French Rally Championship and also starred as a factory driver on several World Rally Championship events. ... [ more ]

A fiery experience...
Will there be an SMG buggy by the time the Rally Dakar competitors reach Buenos Aires next January 18th? The question is relevant, as the French outfit led by Philippe Gache has been losing one every day...

World Touring Car Championship titleholder Yvan Muller was the latest retirement, calling it quits today during the event's ... [ more ]

Dakar motorbiker was missing since Sunday
Dakar Rally organisers have confirmed that French motorbiker Pascal Terry, who went missing on Sunday during the second stage of the event, was found dead. His body lay away from the designated trail.

"It is with great sadness that the organization has been informed that rider Pascal Terry, 49 years old, has been ... [ more ]

Africa Race : Leg 7 - 182 km
This 7th stage of the Africa Race between Laâyoune (southern Morocco) and Bou Lanouar (Mauritania) was not only the longest one in terms of distance but also the shortest one as far as the the length of the Spéciale is concerned: a selective sector followed by a 700 km liaison to pass the border between Morocco and Mauritania. This ... [ more ]

Climbs to 11th place into Neuquén
Guilherme Spinelli and Marcelo Vivolo (both Brazil) finished 15th overall on the fourth special stage of the 2009 Dakar Rally between Ingeniero Jacobacci and Neuquen in Patagonia on Tuesday.

The pair had been lying in a similar position through the first passage control and carefully avoided trouble in the treacherous ... [ more ]

Dakar : Team Dessoude - Leg 3
While yesterday saw the Dakar suffer in the overwhelming heat, this evening the rain fell on the Jacobacci bivouac. The competitors left Puerto Madryn, on the Atlantic coast, to head west towards Jacobacci. The wind gave way to the rain at the end of the afternoon, and the temperatures fell dramatically. But nothing affected today's ... [ more ]

Realistic expectations from the rally veteran
Former World Rally Champion Didier Auriol, a three-time winner of the Monte Carlo Rally, is scheduled to return to the event this year driving a Peugeot 207 S2000 run by Italian team Grifone.

It will be the 1994 World Rally Champion's second year of the IRC, having contested a selected programme of events ... [ more ]

Ice and snow expected for the 100 competitors
A number of the sport's top stars are set to take the start of the 77th Monte Carlo Rally, which runs for the first time as the opening round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge from January 20-24.

Monte Carlo is the oldest and most prestigious rally in the history of the sport, which has traditionally ... [ more ]

Dakar : Mitsubishi Motors - Leg 4
Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart's three turbo-diesel 'Racing Lancers' claimed third, fifth and eighth positions on the shortened 389km fourth special stage between Ingeniero Jacobacci and Neuquén in western Patagonia on Tuesday.

Luc Alphand and Gilles Picard (both France) started from 15th position on the stage, but clawed ... [ more ]

Volkswagen Team Manager
This Dakar Rally is one of the biggest challenges the drivers and co-pilots can face. What is different about the "Dakar” in terms of organising the team?
"The mechanics and engineers have to deal with quite a marathon every day too. On average, the crews in the service vehicles cover about 800 kilometres every day. This entails setting ... [ more ]

Dakar : Volkswagen Motorsport - Leg 4
Volkswagen clinched a thrilling duel on the fourth leg of the Dakar Rally to win its second stage victory. Carlos Sainz/Michel Périn (E/F) in a Race Touareg fought it out with Nasser Al-Attiyah/Tina Thörner (Q/S) on today's route from Jacobacci to Neuquén in western Argentina.

The Volkswagen duo ultimately gained ... [ more ]

Dakar - Motorbikes - Leg 4
There were worries that Cyril Després wouldn't be able to overcome the tyre issues that have plagued him since the beginning of the 2009 Dakar Rally in Argentina, thereby preventing him from dueling with his rival, Marc Coma.

He responded by taking a sought-after second place at the conclusion of today's 459-kilometre run, 1:17 ... [ more ]

Dakar : KTM Racing - Leg 4
Victory on the fourth stage went once again to Marc Coma (Repsol KTM) 1'17 ahead of Cyril Despres (Red Bull KTM) with the American Jonah Street (KTM) third (at 1'21).

Overall Marc increases his lead to 42'57 ahead of new second place man Street with Fretigne third (at 43'42). Jordi Viladoms (Repsol KTM) is fourth (at 55'57) ... [ more ]

Dakar - Cars - Stage 4
BMW X3CC driver Nasser Al Attiyah is not giving up, and the Volkswagen team's Carlos Sainz can feel it as each stage of the Dakar Rally goes by.

According to the observers sitting high above in the helicopters, the duel between the Qatari and the Spaniard was something to see during today's fourth stage of the event as each raced ... [ more ]