Dakar Classic 2023

[Rodger]

This year's Dakar Classic has 75 car entries and 13 trucks. Of those 75 cars 23 are Hilux or Land Cruisers but actually it's 24 because there is a VW Taro in the entry (Taros were built in the Toyota factory and is basically a Hilux rebadged).
13 x HDJ80: 3 x KXJ95; 2 x KZJ90: 2 x BJ73: and one each of HDJ100, BJ71, and one unspecified LC model plus the Taro.

Regards

Rodger

 

[Rodger]

After 2 stages of the Classic, Land Cruisers occupy the first eight places. All 80s except in 5th place is the BJ73 and in eighth is the BJ71.

As you may know the Classic is a time/average speed event that runs a parallel course to the main event and has a lot more check points.
Entrants opt for one of the three average speed categories and the nearer one is to the time/average the less points are incurred.
So the lead 80 has 106 points while the Mitsubishi in last place already has 42850 points

And yes they have already been in the rocks, mountains, scrub and dunes.

In the main event the AutoBody Toyota leads the class.

Regards,

Rodger

 

[Mick W]

As last year the coverage is very limited for the classic class, I found some bits on YouTube. Not sure where the 90 series entry is haven't found anything

 

[Rodger]

The 90 series is number 703 and is currently in 66th place.

The stage was abandoned today as the torrential rain turned DRBs into raging rivers but the stage for all the classes was cut short as the organisers cannot maintain emergency helicopter services in extreme circumstances. So the order in the Classic remains the same.

Regards,

Rodger

 

[Towpack]

On the 2 wheeled front, TT regular and road racing expert James Hillier is still in the hunt running 80th in his first ever Dakar.

 

[Rodger]

After the 4 stage in the Classics, 8 of the first 10 places are occupied by Land Cruisers with the BJ73 in third and the BJ71 in sixth. The remainder are 80s and the two non LC places are held by Nissans.
Split stage tomorrow as the higher average speed vehicles have an extra 40 kilometre section.

In the main car contest Hiluxs occupy 6 of the top 10 places with the 3 Audis e-trons and a mini taking the others spots.

I have also been following James Hillier and after stage 4 he is in 68th place.

 

[Towpack]

Just been watching the stage 3 roundup. Some participants got caught out by flash flooding In the middle of a desert! Strange scenes indeed!

 

[GeekOKent]

Where are you guys watching this ?

 

[Towpack]

Eurosport run a stage highlights program every night, usually around 1am so I record it.
There's also some shorter video clips on their website.

 

[Rodger]

Rally-Raid and Dakar in particular is very popular here in Spain and we get 3 hours a night on the national sports channel.

 

[Rodger]

Since stage 2 the first five places have been held by LCs - 4 x 80s and the BJ71 - and there are another 2 in the top 10.
Only 9 points separate the first two - the leader having 204 points.
Whereas the vehicle in last place has 95300 points

 

[Rodger]

Yesterday - stage 7 - the BJ71 won and is up to 4th place. The first 5 places are LCs but disaster can strike on any stage - an 80 that had consistently been placed in the top 15 had an awful day incurring 24000 points, finishing 72nd on the day.
Rest day tomorrow.

 

[Rodger]

Stages 9 & 10: Not much change in the Classic overall positions with 4 x 8o series in the top 5 and the lone BJ71 holding 4th place - only 1 point behind the 3rd placed 80. They are on the Marathon stage now in the desert - called The Empty Quarter which is 1000 kms long by 500 kms wide and there is nothing but sand and big dunes.
The Marathon stage means that the teams do not have their service trucks, unless they are also in competition, or for the big teams, their motor homes and everyone is under canvas although the catering is still on hand. They cater for 3000 people every day. So this is just like the majority of the privateers and small teams at every stop.
In the production class the LCs are first and second although the second one has undoubtedly had problems as it incurred a 35 hour penalty.

Rodger

 

[Rodger]

The Dakar has finished. In the Classics there were 7 LCs in the top 10 - all 80s except the BJ71 which was on the podium in third place. All the LCs entered finished bar 2 and the VW Taro was badged as a Hilux and looked just like one!
In the production class the 2 LCs entered finished first and second.
The top class - cars - Nassar Al-Attiyah won in a Hilux plus there were four more Toyotas in the top 10.

James Hillier was 13th in his class and 76th overall in the bike rankings.

To finish the Dakar is victory in itself.

Regards,

Rodger