Baciuska promoted to Dakar Stage 2 win; storm forces route change

Rokas Baciuska has inherited the victory on the Dakar Rally’s second stage after being given time again by the FIA.

The Lithuanian had initially been labeled in sixth having run as excessive as fourth through the marathon 48-hour Chrono stage, which had been received by Overdrive Racing team-mate Yazeed Al-Rajhi regardless of a two-minute velocity violation penalty being added to his time.

The Saudi driver had headed Nasser Al-Attiyah earlier than the Qatari’s four-minute rushing penalty dropped him behind basic classification chief Henk Lategan to 3rd, however the determination to offer Baciuska some 12 minutes again after a difficulty throughout refuelling means he takes his first premier class stage win on the Dakar.

Explaining the choice, the stewards’ report learn: “The FIA Sporting Delegate defined that he was current on the scene and may verify the crew was not in a position to perform the refuelling process in time via no fault of the crew.

“On this case, there isn’t a proof that the crew members didn’t fulfil their obligations.

“Due to this fact, on the idea of the precept of honest competitors, it could be unfair on this case to not compensate the crew for the time misplaced on account of circumstances past the management of the crew.”

Baciuska’s promotion caps a dramatic two days of working that noticed quite a few rally protagonists hit bother. Nani Roma and Cristina Gutierrez each noticed their hopes finish – the previous retiring and the latter now taking up a help function for her Dacia Sandriders team-mates.

A type of team-mates, Sebastien Loeb, misplaced time after encountering points with followers on his automobile, although remained within the prime 10 for the stage.

Carlos Sainz conceded his hopes of a second consecutive victory and fifth overall are “gone” after dropping over an hour and a half following a rollover crash on day one of many Chrono, a puncture and navigational points. However there was some respite for the Spaniard, who was given again 3m46s.

The outcome modification is the second stage working to see a stage winner declared after time has been given again. Seth Quintero had been promoted to first place within the opening stage after stopping to assist a stranded Laia Sanz, who had crashed through the 413km check.

Quintero had completed 50s on unique stage winner Guerlain Chicherit, solely to be given 95s again by organisers.

The change in outcome has pushed Baciuska as much as twentieth within the general standings, although the highest spots stay unchanged, with Lategan remaining forward of Al-Rajhi and Al-Attiyah heading to a modified stage three.

Organisers have been pressured to amend the route on account of localised storms, with an announcement explaining: “The problem of the 48 HR Chrono stage was met by the Dakar rivals regardless of its demanding nature and the efforts required of the riders, drivers and co-pilots made this sequence one of many highlights of the race over the previous few years.

#225 Ford M-Sport Ford: Carlos Sainz Sr., Lucas Cruz

Picture by: Pink Bull Content material Pool

“At the moment, the area of Al Henakiyah is topic to extreme storms which may proceed for some whereas. Consequently, the organisers have determined to undertake an alternate and lighter programme for tomorrow’s stage.

“A extra accessible stage route has been established to offer the rivals and machines with some respite, all of the extra so provided that they should deal with the marathon stage on eighth and ninth January.

“The end of the particular might be located after 327 km of the preliminary route (whose distance was 496 km), eradicating 169 kilometres of zones affected by the rainfall. The departure occasions from the bivouac stay unchanged.”