Tags: motorsport 2006 Dakar Rally
Works driver Carlos Sainz leads the desert classic in his Race Touareg 2 by 1 minute 30 seconds after the first stage in Portugal on his "Dakar” debut. Local matador Carlos Sousa lies second in a Nissan. With Bruno Saby in third position followed by team mate Jutta Kleinschmidt, three of the five Volkswagen works drivers are among the top four of the 174 competing teams.
Volkswagen lit the blue touch paper on the opening 83 kilometre stage from Lisbon to Portimao to start the 28th Dakar Rally.
Carlos Sainz (SPA – VW- 1st)
“It was quite a complicated stage, with a lot of mud and many problems with grip. But it was good. My goal today was not to do everything to win the stage. I didn’t want to take too many risks only for a victory on a stage. My final goal remains to finish the rally. Added to that, the car seems to be very competitive”.
Carlos Sousa (Por – Nissan – 2nd)
“It’s been a wonderful stage, except for two little mistakes. In the first kilometres, it was difficult for me to find the good rhythm. It explains the gap with Carlos Sainz. Anyway, I have always said that these two first stages were made for Carlos. I am very happy because the crowd was huge today. Maybe it pushed me to attack a bit more than I should have. But it was a very exciting feeling to drive among all my fans. I told it to Jean-Marie (Lurquin, co-driver) during the stage: I really experienced a good moment today."
Pos., Team, Vehicle, Stage 1, Total time
1. Carlos Sainz/Andreas Schulz (E/D), Volkswagen Race Touareg 2; 56.20 min. (1.) 56.20 min.
2. Carlos Sousa/Jean-Marie Lurquin (P/B), Nissan Pick-up; 57.50 min. (2.) + 1.30 min.
3. Bruno Saby/Michel Pйrin (F/F), Volkswagen Race Touareg 2; 58.11 min. (3.) + 1.51 min.
4. Jutta Kleinschmidt/Fabrizia Pons (D/I), Volkswagen Race Touareg 2; 58.44 min. (4.) + 2.24 min.
5. Guerlain Chicherit/Matthieu Baumel (F/F), BMW X3; 59.22 min. (5.) + 3.02 min.
6. Nani Roma/Henri Magne (E/F), Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution; 59.32 min. (6.) + 3.12 min.
7. Luc Alphand/Gilles Picard (F/F), Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution; 59.40 min. (7.) + 3.20 min.
8. Giniel de Villiers/Tina Thцrner (RSA/S), Volkswagen Race Touareg 2; 59.48 min. (8.) + 3.28 min.
9. Thierry Magnaldi/Arnaud Debron (F/F), Schlesser-Ford; 59.50 min. (9.) + 3.30 min.
10. Mark Miller/Dirk von Zitzewitz (USA/D), Volkswagen Race Touareg 2; 1:00.00 hrs. (10.) + 3.40 min.
