Douz, 08.11.2011

The yesterday’s stage took the lineup for the 2011 El Chott rally again around Ksar Ghilane: 230 km with 35% share of dunes! Many participants recognized yesterday at their limits, both the driving skills as well as the art. Until Tembaine everything was a “no-brainer.” Then began the dunes, high dunes by stairs, alternating with camel grass. Unde werglaubte, the “worst” to have behind him, was taught a lesson in the next climb. The last trapdoor was the highest and most demanding, before the participants reached the runway at Camp Zmela, many were not there! As expected, the motorcyclists were the very front – Day Win: Reiner Fink (24) for Husqvarna. The surprise was even more of the Tatras (Kolomý/Kilian/Boughattas- 501), who was the first twin-track vehicle into the goal. Originally we had thought it unlikely that the trucks meet the last trapdoor at all, we were taught a lesson! In addition, punctually at the finish were in addition to some other bikes in the 4×4 Group only Dittmann / Dittmann (Polaris RZR – 81), Mueller / Teuber (Bowler – 307) and Novak / Sustar (Toyota – 202). Some participants crossed the finish line after the set time and others were the last team from DK just before dark from the dunes to camp out. Kretz / winter / Pessl (MAN TGA – 503) were the only ones who spent the night in the dunes.

For today’s stage, this was not a disadvantage. For a distance of only 85 kilometers of the launch was scheduled for 10.00 clock, so that the “outside sleepers” had plenty of time to reach the camp and to take all necessary preparations to start. The dunes between Ksar Ghilane and the Africa Café on the slopes towards Douz were difficult to drive as ever. On the one hand, came the day’s winner Ulrich Otto (14) KTM in 2 hours and 10 minutes to finish, on the other hand, there was a team that had to be rescued from a hopeless situation.

Conclusion: All participants in the target, one last dinner at the Hotel Touareg Rally cult – Farewell to the desert!

Tomorrow it goes along the Chott el Jerid, named after the rally, west on sandy slopes before the route turns north to once again “off road” the road to “Star Wars scenes” to leave the location of the destination.

Jörg Schumann

Ksar Ghilane, 06/11/2011

After half of the stages to be completed yesterday and the day off with the mandatoryrepairs is now clear: at least 3 vehicles are no longer in the competition. The ToyotaHilux (210), and the two Mercedes G-Class (306) and SLC (309), are indeed ready to drive to, but in view of the upcoming trip home not start well in the competition. The Unimog (403) no longer their roles to the shock is most probably start to the final stageagain. The Italian participants with start number 18 (KTM) and 308 (Defender) could not start today. There is a final diagnosis pending. All other teams took the relatively shortwith only 130 kilometers, but with as many as 30 miles in very soft sand dunes butdemanding special stage under the wheels. It came two Camion Balai less frequentlyused than previously feared. Only two motorcycles (21 and 23) had the button fortechnical defect in her press EXPLONA tracking system. And another had the bad luckbug on Range Rover Base (304), who are on the rest day today after the Achsreparaturoff with electrical fault in the ignition system 5 km before the end of the dune field and go home again to camp on the IFA L60 had.

Days was quickest again as expected a motorcycle rider, Davide Piovesan of Italians(17) to KTM. Fastest two-track vehicle was the RZR (81) with Dittmann / Dittmann,closely followed by the ultra-fast again Tatras.

Conclusion: All the teams in the camp before dark, no accidents, no major damage. Allsigns point to thus attack for tomorrow’s Washington Post, which again provides almost40 km of slopes and sandy dune fields.

Jörg Schumann

Ksar Ghilane, 05.11.2011

At 02.11. Rally participants took the first “reserve test” in attack. The circuit ran from Ksar Ghilane to the National Park “Jebil” and then south into the dune fields between Tembaine and Ksar Ghilane. The high demands on all promised back. Even if the navigation was less problematic, the very soft and deep sand was again one of high difficulty level does not represent a surprise that was in the results of this day to find some motorcycle riders throughout the upper. At the top again Reiner Fink Husquarna, followed by Stephan Otto and Ulrich Preuss (both KTM). Fastest 4-wheel-drive vehicle was again the Tatra from the Czech Republic with Dakar experience. The team was to complete the examination for the record: “If there had been at the DAKAR such an examination, half of the trucks would not have finished.”

To provide participants with some variety, the rally to stay in Ksar Ghilane interrupted at 03.11. and service teams, their work moved to the parking area of ​​the Hotel Sangho Tataouine. The scoring participants completed the relocation to a short and fast track review of Ksar Ghilane to Bir Amir. Like last year, the stage victory went to the sufficiently with about 1000 hp motorized 815 Tatra Dakar (Kolomý / Kilian / Boughattes). In the test itself, there were no failures, but the lorry had Balai still some tasks to do. Thus achieved the “Dakar-oldie” of sand / Ettrichrätz with a broken differential bearing the end of the viaduct is not your own. In addition, the Toyota HiLux from Felseis / Felseis after a repair in Douz on the overpass was an ultra-fast track to disaster. He also was placed on the broom wagon to the hotel.

At 04.11. then the 350 km-long day’s ride of about Tataouine Bir Auine to Ksar Ghilane was on the program. Local guide, it is known that this must be entered into the restricted area. This approval was given at short notice and without bureaucracy. Whole, we wanted to wait at the barrier in Kambout not do without. But nothing came of it. No passport checks, no personal checks, after a brief refueling stop for the next nearly 300 km was completed rating the driveway without any problem. Rating 300 km with an 8 mile stretch dunes trapdoor at Bir Auine are not so easy to monitor. But thanks to the tracking system EXPLONA we knew this day forever, where there were the participants. We could not only provide rapid technical assistance to the remaining motorcycles are on the slopes of two Italian participants formally send special “look”, how many participants the dunes start looking but not found. As with many rallies before, were also on the dunes at Bir ElChott 2011 Auine key point. At the end of the day there was almost exclusively winners: 5 motorcycles completed within the specified time, the WP; forefront once more Reiner Fink. But two other enduro riders managed the dune cross-over, without a CP or just skip a waypoint, even if they missed the ZK-time is short. In the car, only three teams made it through the dune field: Porter / Teuber with their bowlers and the rookies Netzsch / Blessing and Wenzelis / Heinzmann (both Land Rover Discovery). And just as error-free, albeit after the set time, came MAN TGA was Kretz / winter / Pessl through the dunes and into the goal. Dittmann of the RZR / Dittman reached the camp after rolling and steering bolt sheared only in the mountains of Tatra truck and came waidwund with a broken drive shaft Armstark but only with rear-wheel drive to the camp. About 21.00 clock, we could then turn off the EXPLONA base station. The last participants arrived, picked up by the organizing team, the oasis.

Today, on the day of rest, some service vehicles are on the road to Gabes, Douz and Medenine order to get replacement parts. All hope to get their cars for the upcoming five stages still to race-ready again. ORGA is swarmed out around despite the approaching sand storm stages for the 06 and. 07.11. drive up. The camp is therefore granted only a few to enjoy the day off as such.

But that’s what it is, what we’re all here.

Jörg Schumann

Today we provide a first comprehensive summary of the events of the days 1-3 of the rally.

After crossing restless thought the bad weather with rain and cool autumn also in Tunis.They were joined by more than 4-hour customs clearance; 3 ferries were created almost simultaneously. All in all a welcome, we would have wished us differently, especially since the onward journey was anything but enjoyable by a night of heavy rain. At the Hotel Chems Gabes but then we were very warmly received and well received in the last arrivals of the night around 1:30 clock or a buffet dinner.

After a very short night of the show was done by starting the rally site at the hotel. Then it was on the overpass to El Hamma where the prologue was then started. Now the frustration of the past day had finally forgotten, the rally had begun. Unfortunately, the good mood was not all too long. Even during the preparations for the launch of WP 1 Jamel brought the bad news is withdrawn approval for the restricted area!

The message itself was disappointing, but the obvious explanation for this: Despite the present written approval of the Governor and the Tourism and Ministry of Defense and was the general in charge on site Remada not take responsibility for our safety. Still scattered Libyan fighters in a 3-Länder-Eck Libya-Tunisia-Algeria are on the road. And while an incident is not out there are also no adequate security and that no entry into the restricted area: Annoying but not to change, and in terms of a responsible manner by leading to rally just right.

At the drivers meeting in the evening at the Hotel Touareg, there were then in addition to the joy of the day’s victory Porschen / Körver on Land Rover / beetles from the ultra-fast Dakar Tatra from the Czech Republic and the disappointment of the canceled dunes in the south also understand the decision. In the short term end of the rally was changed.Plan B now sees 3 more days before Ksr Ghilane, interrupted by a Aufthalt the Hotel Sangho Tataouine. Even at night, the road book for an additional round course written and completed planning for a marathon stage of Tataouine on Remada and Bir Auine to Ksar Ghilane.

The third Led the rally, the teams from Douz to Ksar Ghilane. 220 km of slopes and smaller dune fields were completed. For the day’s winner, Reiner Fink Husquarna, that would have no problems for other already: Some teams met the target times not identified, others used the exit option offered in time to come to camp. Particularly unlucky had the previous day’s winner: the front axle broke – to further travel in the deep sand was not thinking. Thus, it was already after the first eight kilometers serious dunes needs to be done for the service teams.

In Genua, everything was as usual. The participants completed the paperwork and went in a good mood on the ferry. The crossing was a little rougher than usual, but the welcome and the first briefing could be carried out as planned.

Unfortunately, it was also in the tunes of rain greeted the rally convoy, but the next morning in Gabes was all over, the sun is shining and the first WP was eagerly anticipated by the participants.

Now re currently on the convoy on the road to Ksar Ghilane be attributable where already the first sandy passages is.