The Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart pair Nani Roma & Lucas Cruz, got their first stage victory in the Dakar in the new turbo-charged Racing Lancer on the shortened 13th leg of the special between La Rioja and Córdoba. The Spanish pair started the special in 21st position, but climbed steadily to get the first stage victory for Mitsubishi & Repsol in the 2009 Rally Dakar, and confirmed their sixth position in the overall classification.
This is also the first stage victory for Roma with the Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart, and his first ever victory in the car category. The day will be very emotional for Roma as this evening he will receive a special trophy in the bivouac in Córdoba; the “Henri Magne” to the best co-driver in the Dakar 2009. The deceased Magne was Roma`s co-driver and died in the Rally Morocco 2006.
After the heavy rain in the region of Córdoba and La Rioja, the organisers decided to shorten the special from 543km to 220km, one which started after a long 357km liaison in the province of Catamarca. The special began at the original CP4 (km 364) and was along a part of the route used in the WRC Rally Argentina. The leg finished in Villa Carlos Paz and after a short liaison the teams reached the bivouac in the outskirts of the second largest city in Argentina. The ASO allowed 132 motorbikes and quads, 93 cars and 55 trucks to start.
At kilometre 62, Roma & Cruz occupied second position behind the French driver Guerlain Chicherit, but at kilometre 132 on today`s fast special they were already in first place. The Spaniards kept up a fast pace to the end and so got a historic first win for the new Mitsubishi car created for the Dakar.
Tomorrow, Saturday, sees the final leg of the Dakar 2009 between Córdoba and Buenos Aires. The teams must complete a liaison of 224km. across Oliva, Villa María and Ballesteros and then do the special of 227km, that is on a similar terrain to the one the drivers found on the fiirst day in Santa Rosa de la Pampa.
The leg has two controls in Marcos Juárez and Cruz Alta, and then the final liaison through San Nicolás de los Arroyos and Baradero Alsina takes the cars through Buenos Aires once again to the closing ceremony on Sunday.
Dominique Serieys, team director
“I am obviously very happy, especially for ‘Nani’ and Lucas because they have done a great job to bring the car this far, and also for all the mechanics, engineers and race truck drivers for their strong work, often late into the night, on this rally. We showed today that when the car is running and we manage the electronic management, we are capable of winning. This result is also for Hiroshi and Pascal, who had to stop early in the race when they were leading the team. It is also for Luc and Gilles and Stéphane and Jean-Paul. We have seen again that the Dakar is very tough to win. We will work as hard as possible and invest everything to be ready for 2010 and make sure that we can win back the title.”
Nani Roma >> Audio
“It was a really bad day yesterday and we were close to being out of the race. But to win the stage was a pleasure for me. Everybody in the team has worked for this. Some times it is not possible to win the rally, but this is a reward for the hard work from all the team. It is also the first Dakar stage win for the Lancer and the first Dakar stage win for me with a car. It is a really important day for me as well. This evening, in the bivouac at the briefing, there will be a presentation of a special Henri Magne award. For me to win the stage, on the same day as the presentation, is a special moment for me and everyone in the team.”
Lucas Cruz
“I am happy for all the team. We needed this stage win today as we continue to develop the new car and the new engine. We had our problem last night, but the mechanics worked so hard and this win is for them.”
