Peterhansel climbs to 3rd after 2nd stage

Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart swept back into contention for the overall lead in the 2009 Dakar Rally, after a short, but nonetheless, fast second special stage between Santa Rosa de la Pampa and the Patagonian coastal resort of Puerto Madryn in Argentina on Sunday.

Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret (both France) led the way in the first of three turbo-diesel ‘Racing Lancers’, the defending Dakar champions posting a stage time of 1h 57m 28s for the 237km special, which was sufficient for them to clinch the second fastest time behind stage winner Carlos Sainz and also to catapult them up the leader board to third overall.

Joan ‘Nani’ Roma and Lucas Cruz Senra (both Spain) set the fourth fastest time in their BFGoodrich-shod Racing Lancer to hold fifth in the overall rankings, while the fifth quickest time was sufficient for Luc Alphand and co-driver Gilles Picard (both France) to hold sixth position.

Engine problems force Masuoka to withdraw
Day two was disappointing for Hiroshi Masuoka (Japan) and Pascal Maimon (France) in the fourth Racing Lancer. They sustained engine pulley problems on the opening stage and further examination of the engine revealed that the damage sustained to the Racing Lancer was too much to repair in the time allowed and the car was withdrawn from the race.

Monday’s special is longest of event so far
Despite the intense afternoon heat, hundreds of people lined the narrow streets and promenades of scenic Puerto Madryn on Sunday afternoon to welcome the Dakar caravan to a bivouac overlooking the Golfo Nuevo.

Tomorrow (Monday) teams leave Puerto Madryn in a westerly direction and cross the barren Patagonian wastelands to the overnight halt at Jacobacci, situated to the east of the popular tourist centre and former start of the Por Las Pampas Rally at San Carlos de Bariloche.

The day’s timetable begins with a 70km liaison section before teams tackle a winding 616km special - the longest of the event so far - on classic flowing terrain, starting at Sierra Chuta and passing the Sierra Negra and Sierra Apas.

The special then winds its way through the Pampa de Talagape towards a second passage control near El Cain, before an 8km liaison guides teams into the overnight halt at Jacobacci, 872 metres above sea level.