The Dakar Classic 2022 got underway today, along a 310 kilometre loop around the Ha’il bivouac in Saudi Arabia. The Angelo Caffi Racing Team is taking part in the event for the second year with Ligurian driver Luciano Carcheri, in his tenth Dakar, this time co-drived by Italian Cross-Country Rally champion Giulia Maroni on a Nissan Terrano 1 in Group H3.
After switching to Group H3 the challenge today was particularly demanding for Carcheri, testimonial of Costa Ligure, who had to drive in countless different conditions along the more than 300 kilometres stage with two competitive sectors of 141 kilometres in total.
Despite this, the crew maintained excellent averages, confirming their position at the top of the overall classification.
“The first section of the stage was very technical, Giulia was impeccable with the navigation and we closed the first competitive sector with a good reference. The second section, between oueds and sandier tracks was very fast. We ran flat out for almost all of the time and perhaps we suffered something compared to the official cars in terms of top speed which, in the end, also weighed on the precision measurement of the second stage”.
“The car was perfect. We hit a few bumps in the rocky sections, but we didn’t have any problems. In the oueds with the softer, wetter terrain, the decision to use rather high tyre pressures to avoid punctures meant that I had to keep the car in traction at all times to avoid getting buried, but that’s part of the game. I would say a very good opening” Carcheri said.
Stage 2 changes. Due to flooding at the Al Artawiya bivouac, which was due to host the caravan at the end of tomorrow’s day, the route will be diverted to the Al Quaysumah bivouac. The Marathon stage, which was supposed to include the fractions of 3 and 4 January, will now become two single stages.
Dakar Classic 2022, the Route
01.01.22 | Ha’il-Ha’il (Prologo)
02.01.22 | Ha’il-Ha’il
03.01.22 | Ha’il-Al Quaysumah
04.01.22 | Al Quaysumah-Al Quaysumah
05.01.22 | Al Quaysumah-Riyadh
06.01.22 | Riyadh-Riyadh
07.01.22 | Riyadh-Riyadh
08.01.22 | Riposo Riyadh
09.01.22 | Riuadh-Al Dawadimi
10.01.22 | Al Dawadimi-Wadi Ad Dawasir
11.01.22 | Wadi Ad Dawasir-Wadi Ad Dawasir
12.01.22 | Wadi Ad Dawasir-Bisha
13.01.22 | Bisha-Bisha
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