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Issue #10:January 17, 2024
On January 15, the 8th stage of the Dakar Rally 2024 was held between Al Duwadimi and Ha’il. The route headed towards the mountainous terrain up north where the surface of the SS (competition section) changed from sand to gravel and rocks. The risk of a puncture was increased, and it was a route that demanded meticulous attention navigation. TLC took on this stage with Akira Miura and Mayeul Barbet in Car #500 who kept a healthy pace and came in 123rd overall in the Car category and finished 1st in the Stock (Production Car) category. Ronald Basso and Jean-Michel Polato in Car #501 faced some delays midway, but they drove carefully and came in 127th overall and 2nd in the category. The cumulative rankings up till today are as follows: Car #500 is 81st overall and 1st in the Stock (Production Car) category and Car #501 is 118th overall and 2nd in the category.
For this day’s route, after teams went up north on a 125 km liaison (transfer section) from the bivouac in Al Duwadimi, they headed to the outskirts of Ha’il on a 458 km SS. There were some difficult sand dunes in the first half on the Al Duwadimi side, but the sand was damp, and both TLC cars were able to clear the area without any problems. Next, between the 165 km to 344 km mark, there was a 179 km transfer section on a sealed road; it wasn’t a competition section, but teams were required to travel within a specified time (110 minutes for the Stock category). Shortly after completing this section, Car #501 had some trouble with a broken bolt that secures the front drive components. Car #500 came up from behind and helped with a temporary fix by removing and handing over one of their own bolts. Car #500 proceeded and made it to the finish. On the gravel road, Car #501 then suffered a puncture on a rock, but there were no other recurring problems, and they safely finished the SS. After reaching the finish, they took a 95 km liaison which took them to a bivouac set up near the airport in Ha’il. Car #500 and #501 arrived at around 8 pm and 8:30 pm, respectively.
There are only four stages left in the Dakar Rally 2024. For Stage 9, competitors will be heading back to AlUla on a mountainous 417 km competition section. At the bivouac in Ha’il, temperatures are reaching below 10℃, but the TLC mechanics were focused on performing inspections and maintenance on the Land Cruiser rally cars.
Miura (driver): When we were crossing the sand dunes at the start of the stage, I could really feel how the tires have evolved this year. In places that were previously almost impossible, we’re now able to make it over in one attempt. That’s a significant difference.
Basso (driver): We comfortably drove across the sand dunes at the beginning of the stage, but right after the transfer section we faced some trouble when a bolt broke, and we couldn’t move on. We got the parts we needed from Car #500 who were behind us. We then drove carefully, which took some time, but I’m happy we managed to make it to the finish.