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Accomplished without troubles.

January 13(Local date), the first stage of Chile was the bare and the hilly terrain. Jun wanted to drive at high speed without worries but the road located in the vast land, if the car went off the road, got slow down. That was the route with much of the dust but all cars had to go along the road endlessly.

Jun’s car lacked the power due to high altitude. Jun needed 250km to pass the pickup truck from Russia. That pickup truck kept running at slow pace even the navigator Alan became upset but they could not do nothing about in such a highland course. Jun finished today’s course safely and he had no troubles.

All entrants receive the lunch packs from the official at the bivouac every morning but this time they took it on the way of the liaison after they entered the Chile. Because the authorities of Chile prohibit the rally officials from bringing the lunch pack to their country. Jun parked the car and took out the lunch pack then he was back to the car, the tire was punctured. He found the hole between treads and the air hissing from the tire. Is this an audience’s prank ? It’s not known exactly why. But come to think of the hole’s spot and the situation, it could not happen during the car was running.

Jun told about 4 stages are important that begin from tomorrow. If the driver missed the course, he faces the time loss over 30 minutes easily. Jun will get centered on the race more and more.

Dakar Rally 2014 Stage 8 Result:
Liaison:230 km
SS:462km
T2 Autos Result:2nd
Overall standings:36th

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Fell altitude illness first time.

January 12(Local date), see the profile of the stage 7, you would understand SS of the today’s course was on the highland of altitude 4000m. The route began from Salta and back to the same place as a loop. The starting time was delayed 1 hour due to so much clouds in the sky and the air ambulance helicopter could not fly. The race started during the rain at last. Jun wanted to go to the bathroom at 50km from the start and he continued to drive but he could not hold it soon. Jun stopped the car and relieved nature. It was the earliest manifestation of the altitude illness.

The temperature was low and Jun did not need to drink water but Jun wanted go to the bathroom many times and he had to fight off the urge to sleep. Jun was daydreaming and he was not able to watch the roughness of road surface then Jun got the low visibility. Jun felt the altitude illness strongly at that time. The rain stopped and the weather was getting better but Jun got a headache by the altitude illness. So Jun concentrated to drive carefully, not to up his pace. Alan the navigator had a same illness too.

The car lost the power during the highland running, however Jun finished the today’s stage without troubles. The altitude illness was gone when he arrived to the bivouac and Jun is alright now. Jun saw the local people waved hard from their house and touched the mood of welcome in the long liaison. Hope Jun braces himself up in a straightforward manner in the last half of the rally it just began today. He crosses the border and get into the Republic of Chile tomorrow.

Dakar Rally 2014 Stage 7 Result:
Liaison:510 km
SS:302km
T2 Autos Result:2nd
Overall standings:37th

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