Let's call it a qualify lap..
The race is starting now, no need for qualifying, turn 'em loose and let them run!!!
I predict Nasser 1st and Bryce in the top 5.
I expect to see Nasser in the top 3 to 5, with the Pugs making up the remainder of the top 5... I think Bryce will be in the top 15, but I don't expect him to push too hard in this short stage in the new Mini Buggly. I worry that he may make a simple mistake and have to dig out of the sand in the 2WD and end up in the lower 25-50 range...
Yeah they just do that basically to establish starting order at the front of the pack, and to allow those at the back to get their act together and address any issues before the race gets serious.
What is there to establish, the order is a given from their assigned numbers based on past performance. Turn them loose and let them race. It is just another way that this race has gone soft with WAY more Liaison miles than Race miles by a large margin... When it is planned like this from the start it worries me that we will end up with a boring race. Who cares who the Liaison Champ is??? I want to see them open it up and RACE in the worlds most grueling race, not simply drive in the longest race...
I think that the interesting part of this story is that Peugeot Sport put Sheikh Khalid Al Quassimi in a 3008 DKR but Nasser has gone on record saying that he wants to drive one but hasn't had the opportunity. I don't know the terms, but if they added to the team, why? He has rally experience but not rally raid experience. And if they rented him the newest version of the car, why? I would think that Nasser would rent one too, he rented a Mini previously from X-Raid and won the rally.
Harry, remember we are in 2018 now and the NEW Pugs are 2018 Dakar Race models, so Ernesto was saying that he is driving one of last year's 2017 model Pugs... Nasser would not want to race a hand me down...
But the fact that Pug chose to stay with Sainz over bringing over Nasser should tell us all something about where they place Nasser as far as a team player and race driver. They feel that Sainz, who will likely wad up the car before the rest day, is a better option than Nasser!!! Personally I agree with Pug and wouldn't have Nasser on my team either...
I think if I were starting a team of drivers for a high level Fantasy Dakar team I would have SPH, Yazeed, Loeb, Roma and Robby Gordon in a fleet of Hummbuggies with further revisions from the previous ones making them lighter and more nimble and powering them with a race version of the 2.8L Duramax diesel engine with Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 bodies!!!! RG, SL and Yazeed can rabbit on the field and if the cars hold together under their abuse then the three of them will battle it out for the win about 1-2 hours ahead of the field while SPH and Roma race along at a fast but safe pace to take the win if the rabbits falter!!!
Who would you guys put on your Fantasy Dakar team??? AND what vehicles would they be driving???
