The mechanical difficulties faced by Ales Loprais and his team on Thursday proved to have lingering effects, influencing their performance in subsequent stages of the Dakar Rally. On Saturday, these challenges were compounded by a delayed start, forcing Loprais, along with teammates David Kripal and Darek Rodewald, to tackle the final 200 kilometers of sand dunes under the cover of darkness, making an already arduous stage even more taxing.
The 47th edition of the Dakar Rally pressed on into its second week on January 11, with a punishing route spanning 829 kilometers from ?a?il to Al Duwadimi. This stage was split into a 605-kilometer selective section and a 172-kilometer transfer. While the transfer was a timed segment requiring crews to complete it within a specific window to avoid penalties, it did not contribute to the overall race time. Instead, it served as a logistical connection, ensuring competitors reached the start of the selective section and, later, the next bivouac.
The day’s race essentially unfolded in two phases. The first leg, covering 233 kilometers, challenged drivers with a mix of rapid, flat plateaus and rocky, technical sections. These terrains demanded both precision and adaptability from the competitors.
After dealing with suspension repairs from the prior stage, the red-and-black Iveco #601 was relegated to the 11th starting position among the trucks. This placement meant the InstaTrade Loprais Team De Rooy FPT crew would have to navigate through thick clouds of dust stirred up by slower competitors ahead, adding to the difficulty of overtaking on such rugged paths. Despite these obstacles, Loprais and his crew made a commendable push, climbing into the provisional third position after the first 100 kilometers. However, by the time they reached the transfer point, they had dropped to sixth.
“We’re pushing as much as we can despite the dust,” said navigator David Kripal. “Driving behind slower vehicles severely limits visibility. We also had a flat tire and briefly experienced an electronics issue that caused the truck to stop. Thankfully, a quick reset got us moving again.”
The second portion of the stage, measuring 201 kilometers, introduced softer sands and numerous dune crossings, significantly raising the stakes. The challenge escalated when the crew’s delayed start meant that much of this section had to be completed after nightfall. The darkness turned an already treacherous route into a formidable test of skill and endurance, as headlights alone illuminated the shifting terrain.
“We started late, which created a serious disadvantage for the final stretch,” Kripal explained. “Navigating dunes in total darkness is an entirely different experience. The earlier trucks had daylight to guide them and could move much faster. For us, the broken dunes and Level 1 and 2 hazards required extra caution. It was a grueling test of concentration and endurance. Despite losing time, we’re relieved to have completed it and remain determined to give our best in the upcoming stages.”
n the sixth stage, Loprais and his crew managed to secure fifth place, crossing the finish line 31 minutes behind the day’s fastest truck, driven by Mitchel van den Brink. Despite the setback, Loprais maintained his third position in the overall truck standings. He trails second-placed van den Brink by just under 52 minutes and the category leader, Martin Macík, by 2 hours and 41 minutes. Loprais retains a solid lead over fourth-placed Martin Šoltys, with a margin of 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Changes to Sunday’s Route: Safety Comes First
Sunday’s stage, designed as a loop starting and ending in Al Duwadimi, was adjusted to prioritize the safety of participants. Originally planned as a 481-kilometer selective section, the route for cars and trucks was shortened to 419 kilometers. The decision was made in response to two key concerns: anticipated heavy rains and the exceptional workload faced by the helicopters providing safety coverage. Some helicopters had been stationed overnight near the previous stage’s finish and required additional time to relocate to their new positions for Sunday’s stage.
LOPRAIS TATRA TEAM & DAKAR CLASSIC
The Loprais Tatra Team concluded the opening week of the Dakar Classic with remarkable success. Both Tatra crews navigated the challenging marathon stage without significant setbacks, cementing their dominance in the H2 Truck group standings as they rested in ?a?il on Friday.
The replica Tatra 815-2 “Puma”, piloted by Igor Pazdera, Olga Lounova, and Milan Holan, claimed the top position in their category. Their lead over teammates Jiri Husek, Lubomir Dockal, and Dominik Holan driving the restored Tatra 815 4×4 HAS, stands at 353 points. Veteran Dakar competitor Jerome Pelichet holds third place, trailing by an additional 682 points.
“This first week has been beyond our expectations,” said Pazdera. “At the start, we faced significant challenges, accumulating hundreds of penalty points. But as we adapted to the race’s unique demands, those penalties decreased significantly. The experience has been a blend of every type of terrain and test you could imagine, from dunes to regularity trials. It’s been a truly rewarding week”.
For co-driver Olga Lounova, the marathon stage presented an additional personal challenge, as she juggled her role in the rally with her responsibilities as a mother. Lounová brought her two-year-old daughter to Saudi Arabia, requiring her to balance the intense demands of the race with parenting.
“The marathon stage was both exciting and tough,” Lounová reflected. “We slept at a small bivouac without mechanics, which created a strong sense of camaraderie among the competitors. But being away from my daughter for the first time overnight was emotionally challenging. Thankfully, she managed well and only woke up briefly. I, on the other hand, struggled with physical discomfort from not breastfeeding. Still, the effort paid off, as we climbed to first place in our category.”
The Dakar Classic’s sixth stage covered 731 kilometers, with 425 kilometers dedicated to a selective section composed of regularity, navigation, and dune challenges. The Tatra team excelled in all three regularity tests, consistently placing first and second in their group. Both crews also navigated the dune challenges successfully, demonstrating skill and consistency. In navigation tests, the Tatra teams performed nearly flawlessly, incurring penalties in just one segment while avoiding them entirely in another. This consistency further solidified their lead in the H2 Truck group standings.
