Looking for all the latest Barcelona to Dakar updates? Robbygordon.com will have all the official Red Bull/Volkswagen press releases, photos, occasional updates from Robby and other information
. Race Information:
Dates: December 31st, 2004 – January 16th, 2005
Team: Volkswagen
Sponsor: Red Bull
Driver: Robby Gordon
Co-Driver: Dirk von Zitzewitz
One can differentiate the Race Touareg of Robby and Dirk with the starting number 317 in addition at the neon-green screen over the windshield from the other three Volkswagens.(12-31-2004)
STAGE 16/END: Volkswagen newcomer Robby Gordon quite literally lit the New Year fireworks when he took the overall lead, which he held for two days, after setting the fastest time on the opening stage held along the beach in Barcelona on 31st December. Following a second stage win, the Californian retook the overall lead from ex-World Rally Champion Colin McRae on the fourth stage. In Africa, on day six, Dakar’ debutant Gordon fell victim to a bump and lost almost eight hours after rolling his car. The American and his German co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz displayed unstinting motivation during their fight back from 101st to twelfth position overall and provided help to his team mates on numerous occasions on the remaining stages. Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret in a Mitsubishi won the overall race in 52:31.39 hrs.(volkswagen-motorsport.de)
AND France’s Bruno Saby won the car category’s final stage Sunday in 19 minutes, with fellow Frenchman Thierry Magnaldi 20 seconds behind. Peterhansel finished the last leg in 11th place, 3:09 behind Saby. Some 465 cars, trucks and motorcycles started this year, but by Sunday, only 216 were still in the rally, the rest having broken down or crashed. Before Sunday’s final stage began, race organizers held a minute of silence for the two fatalities recorded this year: Spanish motorcyclist Jose Manuel Perez and Italian motorcyclist Fabrizio Meoni, a two-time winner who had said this Dakar Rally would be his last.(CBS Sportsline/AP)(1-16-2005)
Sites to check out with updates include: Robbygordon.com, www.dakar.com and volkswagen-motorsport.de. And TV Listings for updates on Outdoor Life Network on my TV Listings page and see my #7 Team News and Links page for past news.(1-16-2004)
