January 15(Local date), the last day of Dakar Rally 2012. The competitors accomplished 9000 km road and had a big finale in Lima, the capital of the Republic of Peru.

The last SS was short and Jun attacked the sand dune. He said that it passed by like a flash but he saw 2 cars were stuck in the sand dune and the sand dune made more resistance than he thought. The SS was over safely and I was able to talk with Jun on the line after the ceremony finished.

Jun said “In this Dakar Rally, the tire came off from the wheel at the first stage so I wasn’t able to get auspicious start and that was the cause of the defeat.” In the past Rallies, he took the margins at good pace day by day. However, Jun was mentally pressed about the time gap didn’t get quite big with followers in the first half of the Rally.

In the stage 9, Jun had a sense of security with a big lead with followers. However, he couldn’t get in flow after that because of repeated troubles. The radiator broke 2 times, those were accidents that he never imagined possible. He won’t be able to fix what he has already screwed up, but he is feeling remorse. Ulitimately, this was a remarkable Rally that was troubling even for a well experienced driver like Jun.

Jun said “The Rally is over and the result is settled. I am really sorry that I wasn’t able to respond to the expectations.”

We believe his challenge will continue and hope he carry on this feeling to a next rally.

Dakar Rally 2012 Stage 14 Result:

Liaison: 254km SS:29km

T2 Autos Result: 2nd

Overall standings: 25th

Pos. N° Name Mark Time variation Penalty
1 340 FOJ (ESP) CERVANTES () TOYOTA 09:25:41 -  -
2 339 MITSUHASHI (JPN) GUEHENNEC (FRA) TOYOTA 10:25:14 00:59:33 -
3 346 ALHERAIZ (UAE) ALKENDI (UAE) TOYOTA 13:32:58 04:07:17 -
4 424 GIRARD (FRA) SIMONIN (FRA) TOYOTA 23:21:46 13:56:05 -
5 341 WAUTERS (BEL) FERYN (BEL) TOYOTA 16:40:15 07:14:34 07:00:00
6 412 TOTANI (ITA) TOTANI (ITA) MITSUBISHI 03:44:23 18:18:42 10:20:00
7 415 MOGNIER (FRA) VAUTIER (FRA) TOYOTA 16:34:49 07:09:08 17:00:00
8 439 THUEIL (FRA) THUEIL (FRA) TOYOTA 09:44:07 00:18:26 22:42:00
http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2012/us/stage-14/rankings/overall-cars.html#ancre

Report #18 “Stage1 3 Nasca > Pisco”

January 14(Local date), factually, this is the last race day of Dakar Rally. Jun yielded the top spot yesterday and he tried his best for today’s race. The course in the last SS was very difficult, Jun needed to change his way of thinking of catching up the top runner to crossing the finish line safely.

SS started with about 100 camions at the same course, and Jun couldn’t run easily with them. He was sensitive in finding good line for running on the sand dunes all day long.

Jun saw many cars buried in the sand everywhere, and he kept off those cars with caution. Following the ruts and repeatedly got off the car to find the line with his navigator. Jun was trying desperately to do his best.

Jun’s car was stuck 2 times in the sand but he escaped quickly with a help and he didn’t lose that time much. However, the radiator wasn’t leak water but it got some trouble.

Jun said before the start the race “I trust myself and try my best.” He passed leading cars substantially and got 30th in the class. He made gestures as he finished the race before Foj, who was the top in the same class. He also said “Foj must have also struggled. I missed the victory in my class but was able to keep my concentration till the end.” Jun’s voice sounded good and cheerful.

Jun wish that he can run with a good feeling in the last day of the Rally tomorrow.

Dakar Rally 2012 Stage 13 Result:

Liaison: 76km SS:276km

T2 Autos Result: 2nd

Overall standings: 25th

Pos. N° Name Mark Time variation Penalty
1 340 FOJ (ESP) CERVANTES () TOYOTA 08:52:23 -  -
2 339 MITSUHASHI (JPN) GUEHENNEC (FRA) TOYOTA 09:52:27 01:00:04 -
3 346 ALHERAIZ (UAE) ALKENDI (UAE) TOYOTA 12:39:38 03:47:15 -
4 424 GIRARD (FRA) SIMONIN (FRA) TOYOTA 22:47:11 13:54:48 -
5 341 WAUTERS (BEL) FERYN (BEL) TOYOTA 12:57:42 04:05:19 04:00:00
6 412 TOTANI (ITA) TOTANI (ITA) MITSUBISHI 01:16:28 16:24:05 10:20:00
http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2012/us/stage-13/rankings/overall-cars.html#ancre

January 13(Local date), the second day in Peru. The large desert and two big sand dunes waited  for Jun in the stage. He said “The stages of Peru were much difficult to approach than any others.” Many people checked today’s result already, and he was somber for it after all…..

In the second half of SS, the trouble happened at 10km point from the goal. The radiator got a hole in the same way that happnened some days ago. Jun did the emergency treatment but lost 45 to 50 minutes there.

He was rattled mentally and his car fell down to the big hole. The tire also came off, so the car was incapable of moving. Jun, at last, escaped from the hole with a help from the truck. This was the situation that caused him to waste so much time today.

Jun said “I am more disappointed falling down the hole than the radiator accident. However it is not just me. Until the end, anything can happen to the other teams too. I will tell myself that and go to bed tonight.”

He had unfortunate consequence that made him yieled the top in his class, but nobody knows the epilogue until crossing the finish line. In fact, only 1day remaining of the race but Jun will be on the start line with a delight and a hope again. Go for it Jun !

Dakar Rally 2012 Stage 12 Result:

Liaison: 440km SS:246km

T2 Autos Result: 2nd

Overall standings: 24th

Pos. N° Name Mark Time variation Penalty
1 340 FOJ (ESP) CERVANTES () TOYOT 03:22:09 -  -
2 339 MITSUHASHI (JPN) GUEHENNEC (FRA) TOYOTA 04:33:07 01:10:58 -
3 346 ALHERAIZ (UAE) ALKENDI (UAE) TOYOTA 07:03:33 03:41:24 -
4 424 GIRARD (FRA) SIMONIN (FRA) TOYOTA 16:14:09 12:52:00 -
http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2012/us/stage-12/rankings/overall-cars.html#ancre

January 12(Local date), Jun and his crew got into Republic of Peru ! Nobdy had been to this country before and the courses unknown. 4 days, in real terms 3 days, of the battle of Peru is going to continue the difficult courses.

SS was separated into 2 parts and the first half was the deep feshifeshi ground that tricked Jun’s car. He had completely bad visibility due to the fact leading cars were rolled up the stones and dust. The other cars were buried in the sand everywhere and Jun said it looked like hell. Sometimes the course became so narrow that only one car could through it, thus Jun repeatedly stopped and go but he didn’t lose much time, however, it was impossible to make a big lead with the followers in such a bad situation.

In the second half of SS, Jun started without the cars in front of him and he ran through smoothly. Climbing up the sand dune was very difficult and Jun had a tough time, but he crossed the finish line as 21st from the start of 53rd. His overall standings 20th now and it showed that Jun was in excellent condition.

Jun said: “Today was a good stage and ended a cycle of bad things.”

Arequipa is Dakar Rally’s camp ground first time, and is in a welcome mode, and many audiences came to see the big event. Meanwhile, Jun and his crew takes on to challenge the rest of tough courses without loose ends.

Dakar Rally 2012 Stage 11 Result:

Liaison: 120km SS:478km

T2 Autos Result: 1st

Overall standings: 20th

Pos. N° Name Mark Time variation Penalty
1 339 MITSUHASHI (JPN) GUEHENNEC (FRA) TOYOTA 22:30:44 -  -
2 340 FOJ (ESP) CERVANTES () TOYOTA 23:28:19 00:57:35 -
3 346 ALHERAIZ (UAE) ALKENDI (UAE) TOYOTA 03:07:40 04:36:56 ?
http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2012/us/stage-11/rankings/overall-cars.html#ancre

January 11(Local date), the last day of Chile. Today’s course was the toughest one for Jun since the Rally started. Areas with many rocks, feshifeshi and the complicated sand dunes made the course very tough.

In CP1, Jun had a bad view due to the camions sandwiching Jun’s car. Therefore he couldn’t increas his pace. Jun gave the camion the right of way and figured to get a clear view but the camion followed him and eventually hit Jun’s car.

In CP2, there was the open land after the sand dune, but another sand dune waited for him again. Jun got through the first sand dune well without getting stuck while other cars seemed to miss the course after that. Jun also lost his way and searched for the right direction. Meanwhile, Foj who is the second rank in the same class, arrived at the place. Jun let Foj go ahead of him and was able to find the right way was chosen by his navigator. He lost 40 minutes but step forwarded anyway.

The radiator broke and a lot of water leaked at 13km point from CP3. Jun took off the radiator from the car and fixed it. The radiator of Landcruiser needs time to release the air from the radiator so he did it by repeated stop and go. Fortunately, Jun got the extra water from Basso, car No.398, he gave all of the water to Jun and succeeded to get out of the hole. Jun arrived at the goal at last.

Jun said: “Today was a completely bad day. I probably lose 2 hours total ? But I am really  relieved that I was able to safely come back.”

Dakar Rally 2012 Stage 10 Result:

Liaison: 377km SS:317km

T2 Autos Result: 1st

Overall standings: 22th

Pos. N° Name Mark Time variation Penalty
1 339 MITSUHASHI (JPN) GUEHENNEC (FRA) TOYOTA 17:04:51 -  -
2 340 FOJ (ESP) CERVANTES () TOYOTA 18:03:40 00:58:49 -
3 346 ALHERAIZ (UAE) ALKENDI (UAE) TOYOTA 19:58:52 02:54:01 -
4 398 BASSO (FRA) MÉNARD (FRA) TOYOTA 03:40:33 10:35:42 -
5 424 GIRARD (FRA) SIMONIN (FRA) TOYOTA 02:57:41 09:52:50 -
6 398 BASSO (FRA) MÉNARD (FRA) TOYOTA 03:40:33 10:35:42 -

January 10(Local date), the 4th race day(1day canceled) in Chile. Today’s SS was 557km and the longest run in this Dakar Rally. The first half was the battle with feshifeshi ground and the sand dunes waited in the second half. Because Jun couldn’t cut the time gap as he hoped yesterday, he planned to get a huge lead on the followers today.

In the first half , Jun wasn’t supposed to catch up to the antecessor but his pace was so good that he got close enough to the leading vehicle to wage a good battle. He paid attention to the water temperature of his car and got through the feshifeshi ground. However, he got into a electric system trouble at the end of the part. Usually, the car locks the differential when running in the difficult sand area, but since the system didn’t work, he was buried in the sand. Jun escaped from the sand with a help from the audience. He ran normaly and there was no problem after that but lost 10 minutes there.

The second half was fine without any troubles. Jun climbed and came down the sand dunes at a stroke in the rest of 30km from the goal. That was the exploit of the navigator Alain Guehennec who guided Jun more accurately than usual. He chose a different route from the others and it turned out to be right. Alain was a big help and Jun and succeeded to have a big lead of 1hour and 43minutes from the followers at the end of the stage.

The bench strength of this Dakar Rally is thick and it is so hard to get a higher lank. We hope Jun is going to ascend more and more.

Dakar Rally 2012 Stage 9 Result:

Liaison: 9km SS:557km

T2 Autos Result: 1st

Overall standings: 22th

Pos. N° Name Mark Time variation Penalty
1 339 MITSUHASHI (JPN) GUEHENNEC (FRA) TOYOTA 09:17:16 -  -
2 340 FOJ (ESP) CERVANTES () TOYOTA 11:00:19 01:43:03 -
3 346 ALHERAIZ (UAE) ALKENDI (UAE) TOYOTA 12:47:21 03:30:05 -
4 341 WAUTERS (BEL) FERYN (BEL) TOYOTA 17:18:43 08:01:27 -
5 398 BASSO (FRA) MENARD (FRA) TOYOTA 20:18:03 11:00:47 ?
http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2012/us/stage-9/rankings/overall-cars.html#ancre

January 9(Local date), the second half of Dakar Rally started today ! The competitors were headed north from the southern part of Chile and through Atacama desert in the first SS.

The difficulty level of the first half of SS was high beyond expectations. The course was really challenging. Dirt roads were muddy and Jun saw 2 cars buried in the mud. Fortunately in the last half, the course was easy and the road surface was hard. Therefore he was able to drive the car with full throttle and in high speed.

Jun thought it was going to be difficult to extend the time gap between the followers in the middle of the race but at the end, running full throttle gave him a lead of 6 minutes to the second runner.

Jun said “The progress was well enough for the day after the rest day.” But Jun was out of condition. He battled bravely at beginning but his pace didn’t go up as he hoped because of the repeating of nip and tuck with others. He also said “The race of today was lacking something in uniformity and I had a dead-alive impression. I give my rating 7 out of 10.”

In tomorrow’s stage, Jun will appear in the TV show broadcast by TBS called “Mino Monta No Asa Zuba !”  if he cross the finish line till 6:30 AM(Japan time). He will also be cast in a phone interview.

The difficulty level of tomorrow’s course will be higher than today. Hope you can hear his lively voice after the battle with the feshifeshi ground.

Dakar Rally 2012 Stage 8 Result:

Liaison: 209km SS: 477km

T2 Autos Result: 1st

Overall standings: 24th

Pos. N° Name Mark Time variation Penalty
1 339 MITSUHASHI (JPN) GUEHENNEC (FRA) TOYOTA 03:15:26 -  -
2 340 FOJ (ESP) CERVANTES () TOYOTA 03:44:42 00:29:16 -
3 346 ALHERAIZ (UAE) ALKENDI (UAE) TOYOTA 05:32:30 02:17:04 -
4 341 WAUTERS (BEL) FERYN (BEL) TOYOTA 10:27:49 07:12:23 -
5 415 MOGNIER (FRA) VAUTIER (FRA) TOYOTA 10:29:39 07:14:13 -
6 424 GIRARD (FRA) SIMONIN (FRA) TOYOTA 11:20:49 08:05:23 -
7 398 BASSO (FRA) MENARD (FRA) TOYOTA 13:05:45 09:50:19 ?
8 412 TOTANI (ITA) TOTANI (ITA) MITSUBISHI 00:25:53 21:10:27 05:20:00
9 409 MARRINI (ITA) BRAGA (ITA) MITSUBISHI 14:45:53 11:30:27 14:40:00
http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2012/us/stage-8/rankings/overall-cars.html#ancre