Ultimate Dakar racing team
Ultimate Dakar’s crew scores another small victory
In Monday’s Stage 8, Czech Republic’s Tomas Ourednicek and David Kripal managed to stay out of trouble and clocked the 28th time after a mostly problem-free and steady drive in their Ford Ranger Dakar. Ultimate Dakar’s crew is currently 38th in the overall classification.
Monday started early for the Dakar Rally field: as today bikes and quads didn’t race out of respect for the deceased Paulo Goncalves, cars began the day at an unusually early hour – and in really cold temperature. After the brutal accident on Friday, which relegated them from a fine 25th position to the second half of the overall rankings, Tomas and David completed another long stage without major problems and with a solid result with the rebuilt Ford Ranger.
“I’ve never experienced such cold weather in the Dakar as today morning at the start. This was a very long stage, dunes alternating with very fast parts, including the longest high-speed section I’ve ever seen – 30 kilometres straight! As for the dunes, some of them were easy, but others were really tricky, with very soft sand. At one point we felt some vibration and were afraid that we could lose a wheel so we stopped and David checked it. Fortunately, it was alright but many vehicles we had already passed overtook us. The car has been working great since it was rebuilt after the accident but we still have to work on the engine as it still lacks some power which is frusrating, especially in the dunes,” Tomas summarised the eighth day.
“Today’s special stage was long with many difficult dunes. Some sections I didn’t like, especially that long high-speed straight – parts like this are only about the engine and not the skills. The dunes, however, were very nice and I enjoyed the navigation. I’m happy that we didn’t have punctures and also for the result. I think after Friday’s accident, each stage we finish is a small victory for us,” David added.
On Tuesday, Stage 9 brings the crews from Wadi Al Dawasir to Haradh in a monster day with a total distance of 886 km, out of which 410 km will be against the clock.
Photo: Martin Blazek, www.foto-moto.eu
