Real Dakar! Fire, tears, breakdowns at stage 2 for Tim and Tom Coronel 2016
Tim and Tom Coronel finish the 2nd stage!
Termas de Rio Hondo, January 4th 2016 - After the heavy rain from yesterday, today it was finally time for a special stage. The stage from Villa Carlos Paz to Termas de Rio Hondo would have been the longest of the Dakar Rally, but rain had destroyed a big part of the route. The race directors decided to shorten the stage. Tim and Tom Coronel had a tough day, but not because of the rain.
The sun started to shine today and that created pretty high temperatures. Tim and Tom started the stage and the Maxxis Dakar Buggy felt at home on the quick but narrow paths. There were not even hints of rain, until they reached a 200 meter long puddle of mud. “It was a bit scary because the mud was deep and slippery. I could drive around it, but Tom had the mud op to his waist”, Tim says.
Despite the good weather Tim and Tom couldn’t really enjoy the paths, because the buggies didn’t drive as they should. Tim says: “Just when I started to enjoy all of it, the buggy started to stutter. In the beginning it was okay, but it got worse. I stopped and I checked everything - the petrol pump, spark plugs and electronics, but I couldn’t find the problem. I think the water wasn’t really helpful for my baby.”
Tim wasn’t the only one with a problem, Tom also had a grumpy buggy. After altering some parts it started to run better. Tim and Tom both lost a lot of time, but they reached the finish. “It’s a pity, because it was really a beautiful stage”, Tim says at the finish. “I think we could’ve done better, but it is what it is. I enjoyed the stage and the weather was completely different compared to yesterday. Yesterday I was shivering in the buggy, today it was 43 degrees and sunny. I’m happy that we finally got to race and hope tomorrow will be better.” #TomCoronel #Dakar