Dakar - 2013 | Stage 12, Day 13 - [Fiambala-Copiapo]

Dakar '13, Stage 12 - Map Profile

Dakar '13, Stage 12 - Route Profile

Dakar rally now heads back to Chile with the 12 stage on its 13th day. The action starts from Fiambala, Argentina with 392 km of liaison through the border, and the special stage of 319 km, starts in Chile land. The day ends with another short 4 km of road section to end the day. The route is the same for all category competition.

Organisers - Stage Debriefing

The rally will cross the Andes Mountains from the east to the west this time, via the Paso San Francisco, before dropping down into the Atacama Desert to taste all the types of difficulties that can be faced in the rally-raid discipline. For the large portions of dunes located in the middle of the special, the riders and crews must climb these “monuments” and avoid getting stuck in hollows that are just as big. On the tracks, the stage will be no easy task, since the rocks and stones, though scattered, could even bring the quickest competitors to a sudden halt. The participants who managed to reach Copiapó without making mistakes will have scored precious points in the final battle. Following the neutralisation of their special yesterday, the car and truck crews will probably have to tame their frustration, whilst the bikers, still closely grouped behind Cyril Despres, will have to battle to make the difference. The leading quad riders are relatively safe in terms of position, even if this stage is likely to count among the more decisive on the rally.

Frans Verhoeven (NLD), won the stage, while Cyril Despres leads the overall classification, bikes. Quad #265, UAE Honda rider Sebastian Husseini made the fastest stage finish over the overall-leader Marcos Patronelli.

Peterhansel's team-mate, Mini All4 Racing driver of car #305, Joan (Nani) Roma (ESP) won the stage, and Stephane Peterhansel keeps his over-all lead. Guerlain Chicherit's buggy developed some gear-box issues. Robby Gordon made good pace in the initial part of the stage.

In Trucks category, Kamaz truck #510 driver Andrey Karginov (RUS) took the stage lead, while Eduard Nikoleav (RUS) driver of truck #50 leads the rally.