RALLY DAKAR 2011

[Humanoid]

More than one million enthusiastic spectators turned out to send the totalof 430 participants of the desert classic off to the over 9,600-kilometreendurance test through Argentina and Chileon New Year’s Day. The Avenida 9 deJulio and the obelisk as part of Buenos Aires’ symbols provided the scene ofthe ceremonial start at which the entrants in the automobile, motorcycle, quadand truck classifications were frenetically cheered on by the crowd whilemoving across the starting ramp.

The Dakar Rally started with the first stage win for Volkswagen. CarlosSainz/Lucas Cruz (E/E) are leading the desert classic in the Volkswagen RaceTouareg 3 after the first of 13 legs by 1m 31s ahead of X-raid BMW driverStéphane Peterhansel. Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D) finished thegravel stage in rain as the third-best contenders with a gap of 2m 16s.

Carlos Sainz: “We were in for a tough stage right at thebeginning of the Dakar Rally. After about 30 kilometres we hit a heavy rainshower on the special stage. Although we used the fastest delay control settingfor the wipers, they weren’t able to displace the large amount of water. Thenthe rain disappeared as quickly as it had come. Afterwards we encountered softgravel. Obviously it’s great to open the 'Dakar’ with the fastest time on aspecial stage but it doesn’t mean anything at this point in time.”

In the bike category, the KTM duo of title holder Cyril Despres and MarcComa, who together have won the rally the last five times, lead the chargeriding the newly developed KTM 450 Rally bike, which has been developed toconform to the new regulations that restrict the professional riders to asmaller, less powerful machine. They compete this year in their own individualteams together with Ruben Faria and Juan Pedrero as their co-riders.

Ruben Faria of Portugal took line honorsin the first stage of the 33rd edition of the Dakar Rally on Sunday as riderssettled in for the first competitive stage of this 16-day test of man andmachine. Ruben, co-rider in title holder Cyril Despres' team led in theremaining three KTM factory riders who were separated by only 2 minutes 13seconds.

Speaking straight from the bivouac afterStage 1, Cyril Despres said it had been a great firstday. "Second and first together with my colleague RubenFaria - we couldn't wish for anything better."

Within truck category, Red Bull supportedTeam Kamaz Masters managed to put two of its trucks and drivers at the top of therankings: Vladimir Chagin and Firdaus Kabirov. This is the 57th stage victoryfor the “Czar” on a Dakar.