Report #14 “Stage 12 El Salvador > La Serena”

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Finished at the first place of the class with a luck !

January 17(Local date), Jun thought today was a piece of cake, because the distance of today’s course was shorter than other courses till yesterday but actually it was tough. First, the starting time delayed, due to the geography of this area ingenerates the fog and the officials considered it. The road surface of the first half of the course was the dried up river with a lot of stones. Jun drove the car carefully to avoid the flat tire.

Next, the sand dunes waited for Jun in the second half of the course. There were especially difficult sand dunes at 20-30km of the area though Jun experienced that kind of sand dunes many times before and he cleared with far less difficulty. Jun encountered the driver, Teruhito Sugawara who drove the camion of HINO, sometimes on the way. He got out of his way and gave a clear view for Jun every time. Jun caught up the team mate who took a lead and the both cars crossed the finish line almost same time.

Jun found the drive shaft boot broken after the race. If this part broken during the race the car gets 2 wheel drive and it was not able to climb the sand dune that means Jun’s dropout from the race. It was lucky the drive shaft boot was not broke in SS area. Jun was the really lucky guy.

After he passed the difficult area, Jun had a lapse of concentration but he made a self-statement like concentration ! concentration ! and he cheered for himself. Jun and Alan passed the most critical area so their nervousness gone and chilled after the race.

Tomorrow is the final stage of Dakar Rally 2014. Jun said,
“It will be OK if the car is alright. I drive carefully and I want to finish the rally with relishing pleasures tomorrow”

Dakar Rally 2014 Stage 12 Result:
Liaison:349km
SS:350km
T2 Autos Result of today:1st
Overall standings of today:31st
Total T2 Autos Result:1st
Total Overall standings:20th

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