Speed on plains, rocks through the bush-bush and a visit to the pit stop. Tim and Tom Coronel finished the eleventh stage of the Dakar Rally in 39th place, half an hour behind the stage winner. The brothers drove a solid stage from Bisha to Al Henakiyah, with particularly many rocky passages. « It was a really nice fast track with great variation, because after that there were serious rocks, rocks and more rocks, » Tom explains. « The chance of a flat tire was high. »
Tim agrees it was a special stage. « I thought it was quite a peculiar stage. Didn’t amount to much in my opinion, but there was a very large section with stone paths in it. It really was a moonscape. We were sent through the bush-bush with rocks, rocks and many more rocks. »
Flat tire before the pit stop
Just before the planned pit stop, the brothers felt something was wrong. « We were driving with the left rear tire flat, but that was just before the pit stop, » Tom explains. « So we already felt it, we said: ‘Come on, just keep driving’. We drove the last ten kilometers before the pit stop with a flat tire, but it all looked fine. »
Tim adds: « We didn’t want to drive with a flat tire and we drive into the pit stop with a flat tire. » At the Remote Service Zone, the mechanics quickly changed the tire and the brothers could continue.
Speed and flow
The stage had some nice fast sections. « Especially very long fast sections, » says Tom. « Good flow with the car too. » There was a strange moment though. « At the beginning the car didn’t want to reach top speed, I don’t know why. It was a bit really weird. Whether there was so much wind, I don’t know. It didn’t want to go faster than 150. At some point it suddenly started running 170 and yeah, it was basically non-stop in the limiter. »
Tim was satisfied with the speed. « The speed on the beautiful plains went well. I dare say the navigation was great. We were able to really push it. »
After the finish, there was still a long liaison. « It was still a long way to the bivouac, about two to three hundred kilometers, » says Tim. « Great to be back in the bivouac satisfied. » Tom concludes contentedly: « It was another good day! »
Tomorrow penultimate stage to Yanbu
Tomorrow the penultimate stage is on the program from Al Henakiyah to Yanbu on the coast. A versatile route with fast tracks, tight corners through riverbeds and a closing dune passage. The chance of a big time gain is still there for those who have all the qualities.