CAFÉ RACER 76: 01/08/14

mercredi 8 janvier 2014

Dakar,Leg 4: an assertive run by Sainz / étape 4 : Sainz frappe fort

The fourth leg of the 2014 Dakar from San Juan to Chilecito was won by Carlos Sainz (SMG Buggy) ahead of five Mini ALL4 Racing drivers. Today’s result has taken the Spaniard to the top of the leaderboard, tailed by Nani Roma, Nasser Al-Attiyah, Orlando Terranova and Stéphane Peterhansel who are covered by around 15 minutes.

Carlos Sainz (Buggy SMG) a remporté la 4e étape entre San Juan et Chilecito devant cinq Mini ALL4 Racing. L’Espagnol prend ce soir la tête du rallye devant Nani Roma, Nasser Al-Attiyah, Orlando Terranova et Stéphane Peterhansel groupés en une quinzaine de minutes.

From this morning’s start in San Juan, Argentina’s Ruta 40 passed through some of the country’s most splendid scenery (Talampaya and San Guillermo national parks, the Valle de la Luna, etc.) en route to the small town of Chilecito which is surrounded by orchards and vineyards hemmed in by the slopes of the Velazco and Famatina sierras.

The stage itself was long and tough, with countless river beds to cross and deep, stony gorges. The organisers described it as the longest stage visited by the Dakar since Zouerat-Tichit in 2005. In reality, though, it was divided into two parts (212km and 284km respectively) separated by a long asphalt road section.

Guerlain Chicherit (Jefferies) led at the first passage control, but the Frenchman was halted by a transmission problem at Km65 before the American prototype caught fire at Km427.

It was a difficult start, too, for Leeroy Poulter (Toyota), who had to stop at Km48 with a problem at the rear of his Hilux pick up, as well as for Peterhansel (Mini) who dropped five minutes when he was forced to change a wheel at Km28. The Frenchman managed to recover some of his deficit, however, and he completed the stage with the second best time (+6m3s) behind Sainz (SMG Buggy).

“We started with a late running order this morning and hanging dust was a problem during the first section. Then our power steering failed, but fortunately it was just 10km from the end,” reported the 2010 Dakar winner who has gone 2m6s seconds clear overall, ahead of compatriot Nani Roma who was fifth today.

Third place went to Al-Attiyah (Mini) who actually led from the second to the eighth passage control, posting the fastest time for the first section. He then dropped 10 or so minutes after he got lost at Km500. The Qatari is also third overall, ahead of Argentina’s Terranova (Mini) who was sixth today. One of today’s top performances was the work of fellow Argentine driver Federico Villagra (Mini) who produced the fourth-best effort, ahead of Roma.

Thursday’s menu will take survivors to the city of San Miguel de Tucuman via a 527km stage split in two by a 70km asphalt liaison section. The main difficulties promise to be the first big dunes of the week, some off-road motoring, sand and, to conclude, stony trails. Sainz will be the first driver to tackle the stage at 8:28am local time.

Parc National de Talampaya, d’Ischigualasto, Valle de la Luna, Parc National de San Guillermo : depuis San Juan, la Ruta 40 traverse peut-être les plus beaux décors de l’Argentine jusqu’à Chilecito, petite ville entourée d’arbres fruitiers et de vignes entre les Sierras de Velazco et Famatina.

Pour les concurrents du Dakar, Chilecito est toujours synonyme d’étape difficile qui amène une étape encore plus compliquée. Mais en attendant les premières grandes dunes et hors-pistes du Dakar 2014 demain, la spéciale du jour traversait d’innombrables rios et de profonds canyons empierrés. Difficile, donc, et longue, très longue…

Annoncée comme la plus longue spéciale depuis Zouerat-Tichit en 2005, elle était en réalité divisée en deux sections de 212 et 284 km, entrecoupées par une longue liaison sur asphalte. Le prototype Jefferies de Guerlain Chicherit était pointé en tête au CP1. Mais au Km 65, le Français a dû s’arrêter (transmission) et au Km 427, le prototype américain s’est embrasé.

Début d’étape difficile aussi pour Leeroy Poulter (Toyota Hilux) arrêté au Km 48 (problème de train arrière), et pour Stéphane Peterhansel (Mini), qui a dû changer une roue au Km 28 et perdu 5 minutes. Mais le Français est revenu sur la tête de course au fil des kilomètres pour pointer à la 3^e place provisoire au CP9. Il a finalement conclu à la 2^e place, à 6min03s de Sainz, grand vainqueur du jour sur son Buggy SMG.

« On est parti loin ce matin et nous avons eu beaucoup de poussière dans la 1^ère section. On a eu beaucoup de chance car la direction assistée a lâché à 10 km de l’arrivée », résumait le vainqueur du Dakar 2010, qui arrache les rênes du rallye à son compatriote Nani Roma (5^eaujourd’hui) pour 2min06s.

Nasser Al-Attiyah (Mini) a signé le 3^e temps du jour alors qu’il avait fait course en tête du CP2 au CP8 et remporté la 1^ère partie de spéciale. Mais il s’est égaré une dizaine de minutes au Km 500. Le Qatari est également 3^e du classement général devant l’Argentin Orlando Terranova (Mini), 6^eaujourd’hui. Mais cette journée a été marquée par la performance d’un autre pilote argentin, Federico Villagra (Mini), régulièrement dans le top-five, qui termine à la 4^e place devant Roma.

Demain, cap sur la métropole de San Miguel de Tucuman via une spéciale de 527 km entrecoupée par une liaison asphalte de 70 km. Au programme : du hors-piste, du sable, des dunes et des pistes caillouteuses pour finir. Départ en spéciale à 8h28 (12h28) pour « El Matador ».

Classement étape 4

1. Sainz/Gottschalk (Buggy SMG), 5h20min32s – 2. Peterhansel/Cottret (Mini/Michelin), +6min03s – 3. Al-Attiyah/Cruz (Mini/Michelin), +8min58s – 4. Villagra/Perez Companc (Mini/Michelin), +13min19s – 5. Roma/Périn (Mini/Michelin), +14min08s…

Classement général

1. Sainz/Gottschalk (Buggy SMG), 14h52min47s – 2. Roma/Périn (Mini/Michelin), +2min06s – 3. Al-Attiyah/Cruz (Mini/Michelin), +6min56s – 4. Terranova/Fiuza (Mini/Michelin), +13min08s – 5. Peterhansel/Cottret (Mini/Michelin), +18min10s…

Dakar, étape 4 : Victoire surprise de Pedrero

Juan Pedrero (Sherco-Michelin) a créé la surprise en remportant la quatrième étape du Dakar 2014. L’Espagnol devance de 29 secondes le chilien Chaleco Lopez (KTM-Michelin) qui a mené la quasi-totalité de la spéciale. Marc Coma (KTM-Michelin) complète le podium. Sixième, Joan Barreda (Honda-Michelin) conserve les commandes du rallye.

Juan Pedrero revient de loin. Parti 43^ème ce matin à la suite de problème moteur hier, le pilote Sherco-Michelin est pointé en deuxième position à tous les points intermédiaires de la seconde partie de l’étape marathon. Au dernier Check Point (CP), 32 secondes le séparent de Chaleco Lopez. Pedrero a profité de la dernière portion chronométrée pour parfaire son retard et franchir la ligne d’arrivée en vainqueur. Il enlève sa première victoire sur le Dakar pour sa sixième participation.

S’élançant de la sixième position, Chaleco Lopez est passé tout près de l’emporter. En tête à tous les CP, il échoue à la deuxième place pour seulement 29 secondes. Mais le Chilien réalise une bonne opération en revenant à la troisième place du classement provisoire accusant un retard de 5min12s sur le leader Barreda.

En terminant troisième à 3min10s, Marc Coma se hisse à la deuxième place du général. Jeremias Israel (Speedbrain-Michelin) se classe quatrième (+6min30s). Auteur d’une belle étape, Olivier Pain (Yamaha Factory Team – Michelin) complète le top 5.

Vainqueur des première et troisième spéciales, Juan Barreda limite la classe en terminant sixième à 13min56s de son compatriote après une erreur de navigation. Il reste aux commandes du rallye pour seulement 3min10s.

Animateur de la première moitié de la spéciale, Alain Duclos (Sherco-Michelin) a concédé du temps dans la deuxième partie. Il pointe à la huitième place à l’arrivée mais conserve sa quatrième position au général (+25min55).

Les espoirs de Cyril Despres (Yamaha Factory Team – Michelin) d’accrocher une sixième victoire se sont envolés à une douzaine de kilomètres de l’arrivée. Le tenant du titre a perdu 44 minutes et plonge à la sixième place au général à 41 minutes du leader. Cette quatrième étape a également fatale au jeune Sam Sunderland (Honda) qui a été contraint à l’abandon sur casse moteur.

Ce soir, autos et motos sont de nouveau réunies au Bivouac à Chilecito. Demain, les concurrents devront affronter la plus longue étape du rallye (912 km) sous des températures très élevées. Attention aux surchauffe-moteurs pour rallier l’arrivée à Tucuman !

Classement étape 4 :

Pedrero (Sherco-Michelin) – 2. Lopez (KTM-Michelin) +29s – 3. Coma (KTM-Michelin) +3min10 – 4. Israel (Speedbrain-Michelin) +6min30 – 5. Pain (Yamaha-Michelin) +7min01,…

Classement général :

Barreda, 15:39:53 – 2. Coma +3min10 – 3. Lopez +5min12 – 4. Duclos +25min55 – 5. Pain +29min38 – 6. Despres + 41min16,..

Vintage : Saturday night at the duck pond ~ The Cougers

Weineck Cobra with over 1,000bhp: The fastest snake in the world

Brothers Claus and Jens Weineck, founders of the eponymous company based in Bad Gandersheim, Germany, have long had the knack of tweaking large engines for use in racing cars and powerboats. They also have a weakness for the 1960s Anglo-American classic, the AC Cobra...

The combination led to not only probably the most powerful Cobra ever created, but also one of the most unforgiving road cars ever built. When the thunderous custom Cobra was unleashed back in the early 2000s, it would reach 124mph in under 10 seconds – putting it in the same league as the Ferrari Enzo and Lamborghini Murciélago, and even the Mercedes CLK GTR and Porsche 911 GT1. It’s worth reminding yourself that the car was based on a 40-year-old design, yet did battle with the aerodynamic elite of its day.

This was down to a vast 12.9-litre V8 with 1,100bhp, twinned with an unladen kerb weight of less than 1,000kg. Crucially, the Weineck Cobra used some NASCAR-spec components – for example, the V8’s 1,328lb ft of torque was delivered via a four-speed transmission with a 1,475lb ft threshold. The engine cooling system, meanwhile, was developed to cope with the 50ºC+ temperatures in Dubai, where one of the production Weineck Cobras was sent.

Beneath the familiar curves lay an aluminium and titanium frame measuring 10cm in diameter; any less and the torsional forces of the immense V8 would have wrung the super snake out like a wet towel. As far as deceleration, Weineck sourced the largest Brembo brakes that would fill the cavity behind those knock-off wheels.

Originally, 15 Weineck Cobras were planned for production back in the early 2000s. However, the opportunity to acquire one of these rare reptiles will present itself at RM’s Rétromobile 2014 sale in February.

Photos: Tan Meng Choon - Courtesy of RM Auctions

RELIANT RUGGED ROBIN

Reliant Robin and large beard fan Bernard Reeves reached breaking point after seeing so many Reliant Robins being tipped over and generally mocked after the airing of a Top Gear episode featuring Jeremy Clarkson haplessly flipping an old Robin onto it’s side time and time again.

Although the episode in question was hilarious, it was a damned shame to see so many classic Robins being abused on the streets, Mr Reeves decided to step in and create a Robin that no one in their right mind would mess with.

Reliant Rugged Robin 1 Reliant Rugged Robin

Meet the Reliant Rugged Robin, it’s an original Robin that’s been pulled to bits and rebuilt A-Team style. The matte green little beast has tank tracks fitted at the rear as well as a Browning .50 cal machine gun, a pair of Vickers machine guns, long-range radio communications gear, an outboard engine, a spot light and built in long range fuel tanks.

I can’t help but hope that this car gets featured on Top Gear, I’d pay good money to see the Stig setting a hot lap in it and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

Reliant Rugged Robin 2 Reliant Rugged Robin

from SILODROME Via Gear Patrol

Lamborghini Porrentruy: The sign of Taurus

Perhaps it's the good country air of the Swiss Jura that makes bulls feel so at home in the small town of Porrentruy, near the French border. Here, 30 years ago, Roland Affolter created a place of pilgrimage for Lamborghini enthusiasts...

The story begins in the early 1980s at the Geneva Motor Show: Roland Affolter, son of a farmer and avid automobile dealer, fell in love with the razor-sharp Lamborghini Countach - and not long after, he became the cars' official importer in Switzerland. When, in the early 1990s, the Countach was succeeded by the Diablo, Roland Affolter began not only to sell, but also to customise the V12 supercars. With plenty of carbon, new body elements, headlights, wheels and even automatic sunroofs, he created striking 'Evolution' models that captured the hearts of his customers.

Lamborghini icons from three decades

Today, Affolter operates two showrooms, one in Porrentruy and one in Geneva; however, many of his customers originate from the early years and appreciate the classics. Hence in Porrentruy you'll find not only the latest Lamborghinis - such as the Aventador Anniversario and numerous Gallardo variants - on display in the showroom, but also a dozen Diablos in different stages of evolution, through to wild variations of the Murciélago , two or three Countaches, an LM002, and the two million-dollar Reventón in both coupé and roadster form.

A small museum

Meanwhile, in another room, you can admire a customer's collection that includes such models as the Miura Jota and Diablo VT Roadster, while the in-house workshop currently sees an early Countach being fitted with a new interior. Anyone with a passion for Sant 'Agata bulls shouldn't miss the chance to visit Lamborghini Porrentruy.

Photos: Jan Baedeker