Africa Eco-race 2018 (the race to Dakar)

meaning cars dont race while in France. legislation thing.

 

Sweet, thanks George.

 

Partir?

 

it's on -

Africa Race 2018 - Etape N°1 : NADOR > DAR KAOURA | Africa Eco Race

as of the moment of writing Paolo Ceci 1st in bikes with Ullevalseter 2nd, Agoshkov 3rd

 

TV schedule (also for North America)

http://www.africarace.com/sites/default/files/2017-12/mediaTV.pdf

 

Vasiliev 1st, De Rooy 3rd overall, Serradori 4th, Besson in Overdrive Toyota 7th. MD buggies do well with numerous drivers in top spots.

 

Tsuk Sella, Zapletal and Thierry Magnaldi are last minute non-starters in bikes, cars, SSV respectively.

Tomas Tomecek in his Tatra T4 truck on his own, no mechanic, no navigator

 

Africa Eco-Race Etape 1

 

They seemed to do well in the dunes in Morocco when I saw them.

 

Still an exciting race.

Kids throwing rocks at De Rooy's truck yesterday (and a sheared bolt in the shock mount slowing him down), rally route going through a massive bee yard ))) Agoshkov coming to bivouac last as he had issues with bike, 3 hours of rest and he won 21 positions today. Tomecek comeback single handed in his Tatra going up in the rankings. Serradori won stage today in the buggy.

 

Looks like a slight decline in Car/Truck entries even with the issues that Dakar had last year and DeRooy and other's defections...I count 45 car/Truck entries this year vs. the 50 last year.

Also looks like they rarely DNF you given some 3 stages in there are no DNFs, just a number of big time penalties.

 

There are some DNF competitors out there now just that the webb site has not been up dated. Unfortunately Lydia Truglio Beaumont crashed yesterday and was flown back to France in a Coma. Get well very soon Lydia.

With the ACR if you do not finish the days stage due to mechanical, got lost, took the easy way out of the stage (back to a main Road) or did not finish the stage in the allotted time you are allowed to continue in the rally but you do incur massive penalties. This applies with international rallies as well. It is only Dakar (ASO) that disqualifies you if you don't finish the days stage. Hence why you seen DNFs on every stage.

 

Ullevalseter basically out of chances to win (if he can even start tomorrow), same with Agoshkov, plenty of bikes turned to road today.

Elisabete Jacinto out in her truck yesterday with a broken diff and cant get a spare.

4th car is nearly 2 hours behind Vasiliev. Only Serradori still fights off with 10 mins difference. Tough day today

 

Photos from Alessio Corradini

https://www.facebook.com/disodbediente

 

Ullevalseter won stage in bikes

Vasiliev and Serradori keep fighting for 1st in cars. Rudskoy tore his rear diff out, 2 shocks are gone too. Hopes to continue after rest day tomorrow.