Dakar 2012 - Stage 9 - Antofagasta >Iquique

[Will_Higman]

A SPEED/(TBA sponsor) T4 truck would come in handy today!

The worst case scenario would be pulling Hummer #2 through the stage so it doesn’t time out of the rally.

Hopefully Nasser can keep going some how...

Could have helped out Skilton too if he needed it...

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[Short Bus]

Do a google image search for Iquique dunes. The dunes around the town are amazing. They look like something from science fiction.

[xjchaser]

JMHO...But RG might have it on cruise control since Nasser is out and he has no back up...He will gain time when he can and be conservative in the technical stuff...Again JMHO

[FlyHiFlyLo]

If it's the alt, good now BC has a good media H3

Haha mount 10 cameras on that thing and go for it.

SPEED_ENERGY SPEED ENERGY
Unfortunately Nasser has broken 3 serpentine belts today during the stage which is extremely odd.
Has he got any left?

He may have a sump pump going bad and it locking up causing the belt to burn off or jump.

It only takes a TINY misalignment to throw belts, especially at high rpm or in an over rev situation. Sometimes running a heavy-duty belt or too much tension can cause problems. Belts can be very frustrating or one of those things that never come up. Nasser must have an alignment problem. Something must have gotten bent just a tiny bit.

See above

After driving the H3 I wonder if Nasser really wants to drive anything else to race against it next year.

I doubt he will WANT to drive the 4wd car again.

Like everyone said, hopefully he/Qatar paid up front, because as good as RG's lawyers are, I'm. It sure how you go about suing a country...GAS ON RG!

Many of the recent last minute adders to his Dakar program are a result of PAYMENT IN FULL. You don't get crap until that check clears.

Think Mini/X-Raid will do the Dakar next year? I'm pretty sure they will; Monster stepped up their sponsorship this year, and I'm pretty sure BMW really wants a win for this team, several most likely, so I think Peterhansel would be a challenge to get. Mark Miller is the most high profile driver on the market at the moment, that I know of.

Mark is on the MARKet today... But I know Peterhanzel wanted to drive the Hummer too. After what Nasser proved and if RG can wrap this win up, RG can give these cars to many of these guys for what they pay to borrow.

whoever brought up the gear driven alternator, that is a good idea....Could also go cam driven as well

I said they should cast the sealed alt housing in the tail housing of the trans and oil cool it with the trans cooling system them mount the waterproof electric and electronic parts on the chassis. With a back up just like they do with ignition boxes. They are hauling an extra alternator anyways this would be lighter.

Some times it works out like in 2010 and 2011 for Carlos and Nasser but normally it doesn't... 1975-2009 Ralph, Gini, Dirk and I have engaged in some of those battles, especially in Russia....but those are long stories for another time.

Go RG!!!!!!!!

Oh grandpa...do tell...please, please! Haha JK.

Prior to being with VW, Nasser was on the x-raid team. He may have burned his bridges their.

Ya think?

[CDN11]

The BMWs seem to be yesterday's news at X-raid. He may have known the X3s were not competitive.

The Mini's are basically an X-3 with a Mini body.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

A SPEED/(TBA sponsor) T4 truck would come in handy today!

The worst case scenario would be pulling Hummer #2 through the stage so it doesn’t time out of the rally.

Hopefully Nasser can keep going some how...

Could have helped out Skilton too if he needed it...

Problem is the team works on the T-4 more than race cars.... LOL

[Short Bus]

[JasonHutter]

The Mini's are basically an X-3 with a Mini body.

But lighter and a lower center of gravity

[ctadarts]

Bad Ass!!

[Short Bus]

The Mini's are basically an X-3 with a Mini body.

In an article I read before the start, X-Raid made a point of it to say that the Minis are not just rebodied X3s. It could be just marketing speak, but they are supposedly improved.