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Quick Act Keeps Fast Riwald Pair In The Dakar
For the service crew of Riwald Dakar Team the rest day in San Miguel de Tucuman was no day to relax. The two HRX Fords were meticulously inspected and maintained, because the mud wrestling during the eighth stage left their marks. Only due to a quick act by Erik Wevers and Fabian Lurquin their rally car was saved from a raging sea of mud yesterday.
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The halved stage between Salta and San Miguel de Tucuman became a test in itself due to the weather gods. Already at the start the heavy rain took away almost all visibility. The special went through the mountains including crossing a river for several times. The first encounter the water was 40 centimetres high, the following cross it was risen 10/20 centimetres, but with some clever twisting and turning the Riwald pair managed to come across.
During the third meeting the river was turned into a swirling pool of water and mud. Just when Erik and Fabian were forging their plan, they saw how a tidal wave of mud approached at high speed. The men looked at each other and knew: it's now or never. At maximum speed the HRX Ford was directed downstream and at the first opportunity the river was crossed. After this successful intervention the Riwald drivers saw how the river swallowed everything that got in the way. A narrow escape.
Gert Huzink and Eugenie Decré where forced to start further behind after the problems earlier this week. In this bizarre circumstances they were having a good run, gaining many positions. For the Riwald pair the neutralisation was a drawback, because the risky march did not result in a better starting position. Annoyingly Gert and Eugenie will have to start at the position of stage 8.
Tomorrow the second half of the Dakar Rally 2013 starts with a violent long special stage of 593 km towards Cordoba. Erik Wevers and Fabian Lurquin are classified in twelfth position and will do everything to move the Riwald Dakar Team in the top 10. Gert Huzink and Eugenie Decré will try to convert their 42th position into a top 30 ranking.
PaddockTalk Perspective
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Also in WRC Rally News 2010: |
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