2012 Dakar

[corax]

The 2012 Dakar Rally starts tomorrow!

This year it's running from Mar Del Plata, Argentina to Lima, Peru, through the Atacama desert, covering just over 4,000 miles in a 2 week period. Registration includes 188 bikes, 32 quads, 173 cars (this includes SUVs and light duty trucks) and 76 trucks (the big 'uns). So who's going to be trying to keep an eye on it this year and what class will you be trying to watch?

LINK (http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html) Official Dakar Rally website
LINK (http://www.bigpicture.in/dakar-rally-2010/) to some pics from the 2010 Dakar
LINK (http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/01/dakar_2011.html) some pics from the 2011 Dakar

Dakar 2012 Promo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyPu_57Avfo#ws)

[Seanz0rz]

ill be keeping an eye on the 'cars' but honestly there is zero coverage for TV and im not interested enough to pay attention to the internet. ill catch the highlight reels on youtube.

[Marc P]

I love watching it, but the coverage sucks on tv...

[corax]

Agreed on the coverage in the US. I think the best I'm going to be able to manage is youtube highlights or the 5 minute daily recap videos on the official Dakar site, though I did hear Speed channel might have coverage during their afternoon programming.

[corax]

This youtube channel seems to have good daily recaps so far, hopefully the uploads will keep coming :D

http://www.youtube.com/user/JMLatvalaFan

searching "Dakar 2012 highlight" has been pretty successful for me catching coverage

[Seanz0rz]

death on stage 1. there's more info on their site under press releases.

[corax]

And this is why RG is the MAN (slight language)
Robbie Gordon KMA.wmv (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z0c9KdAzg4#ws)

a little background: he was accused of cheating as the french Mini drivers couldn't figure out how he could be so fast. He was actually dismissed from the race a few days ago, but is still racing under appeal - a final decision will be made in 3-4 weeks. the organizers are very tight lipped about what kind of illegal performance enhancement they are accusing him of, but my theory (from bits and pieces dropped in several interviews) is that he's using engine vacuum to speed tire deflation through the CTIS.

Yesterday he had some problems and lost 1.5hrs, today he won the stage by nearly 20 minutes :D
The pressure from his tires would do nothing to engine performance given the mass amount of air going through at speed.

[4x4mike]

He's supposed to be at KOH this year isn't he? He'll mix it up as well.