Dakar: Roma leads Mitsubishi challenge.
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[12/31/2005] Nani Roma leads the challenge for Mitsubishi after the opening prologue stage of the 2006 Dakar Rally following problems for both Stephane Peterhansel and Hiroshi Masuoka on the 83km run from Lisbon to Portimao.
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Nani Roma leads the challenge for Mitsubishi after the opening prologue stage of the 2006 Dakar Rally following problems for both Stephane Peterhansel and Hiroshi Masuoka on the 83km run from Lisbon to Portimao.
The Spaniard holds sixth place overnight, over three minutes behind countryman Carlos Sainz who powered his Volkswagen Touraeg to the quickest time, with Luc Alphand only a matter of seconds further back in seventh.
The former downhill skier admitted he wasn't totally at home on stages better suited to the WRC, but was happy to have made it to the end of stage one unscathed.
"I have mixed feelings about these long European stages," he said. "Unlike some of our rivals we had no problems with the windscreen misting over when it rained in October [on the Baja Portalegre]. But I think the problems could arise tomorrow if it rains. If it is really muddy on the second stage it could be dangerous. If you slide or lose traction, that is where the problems begin."
Defending Dakar champion Peterhansel had the disadvantage of running first on the road on the opening morning and paid the price as he suffered a puncture near the start. The Frenchman was forced to stop and change the wheel and lost over two minutes in the process, meaning he ends day one outside the top ten in twelfth place.
"Today's stage was quite varied," he said. "There were places where you needed to be very careful. It was muddy in parts and some puddles of water stood in sheltered areas. Other places were much faster across rural farmland and you could push a little, but after the puncture we had no chance of setting a fast time."
Two-time winner Hiroshi Masuoka was running in third position in the stage until he also picked up a flat tyre just eight kilometres from the finish. The delay dropped the Japanese star down to 13th place.
"We were a little unlucky today," Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart team director Dominique Serieys said. "It is never easy to open the stage and Stephane paid the price by getting a puncture. He lost time there and then Hiroshi also had to stop near the finish to change a tyre.
"It is very early days. We will be patient, take no risks and wait until we reach Africa."
The Spaniard holds sixth place overnight, over three minutes behind countryman Carlos Sainz who powered his Volkswagen Touraeg to the quickest time, with Luc Alphand only a matter of seconds further back in seventh.
The former downhill skier admitted he wasn't totally at home on stages better suited to the WRC, but was happy to have made it to the end of stage one unscathed.
"I have mixed feelings about these long European stages," he said. "Unlike some of our rivals we had no problems with the windscreen misting over when it rained in October [on the Baja Portalegre]. But I think the problems could arise tomorrow if it rains. If it is really muddy on the second stage it could be dangerous. If you slide or lose traction, that is where the problems begin."
Defending Dakar champion Peterhansel had the disadvantage of running first on the road on the opening morning and paid the price as he suffered a puncture near the start. The Frenchman was forced to stop and change the wheel and lost over two minutes in the process, meaning he ends day one outside the top ten in twelfth place.
"Today's stage was quite varied," he said. "There were places where you needed to be very careful. It was muddy in parts and some puddles of water stood in sheltered areas. Other places were much faster across rural farmland and you could push a little, but after the puncture we had no chance of setting a fast time."
Two-time winner Hiroshi Masuoka was running in third position in the stage until he also picked up a flat tyre just eight kilometres from the finish. The delay dropped the Japanese star down to 13th place.
"We were a little unlucky today," Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart team director Dominique Serieys said. "It is never easy to open the stage and Stephane paid the price by getting a puncture. He lost time there and then Hiroshi also had to stop near the finish to change a tyre.
"It is very early days. We will be patient, take no risks and wait until we reach Africa."
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