Dakar - 2013 | Day 1, 2 - Stage 1, 2 | Report - NEWS 📰 Autos, Business, Sports, India, Finance, Technology, Lifestyle, WRC, Health, Motorsport

After a grand ceremonial start, the competitors headed to the start line amidst the spectating crowds. First Leg of Dakar was much...

After a grand ceremonial start, the competitors headed to the start line amidst the spectating crowds.

First Leg of Dakar was much like a warmup of 13kms of competitive stage distance, after 250 kms of 250kms from the city of Lima to Pisco, but nothing less exciting. Thousands of fans, spectators lined almost the entire length of the passage, cheering and lauding their 'Gods on wheels'.

Stage 1, Day 1:

Bikers did the honor of opening the Dakar Rally, in the reverse order and last years winner Cyril Despres starting last. Quads, Cars and Trucks followed the bikers, in a similar order. Chaleco Lopez with his KTM 450, Ignacio Flores on his Yamaha Raptor, Carlos Sainz in his Redbull Buggy, Gerard De Rooy in his Iveco took the stage win.

Day 2, Stage 2:

The second day, stage 2 of Dakar will start from Pisco and loops back to Pisco, with 85kms of transport section and 242kms of competitive stage. A proper Dakar stage! The stage is mostly sandy, with dirt/gravel at first 50kms an some more 50kms of chunks in between.

Joan Barreda Bort on his Husqvarna 450, Marcos Patronelli on his Yamaha Raptor, Stephane Peterhansel in his Mini All 4, Gerard De Rooy in his Iveco took the stage win and lead the rally.

I know, I know, it may look confusing for now with the hard to believe shuffle in the result sheet, but this how things are in an endurance rally raid! Unpredictable and interesting..