The second stage, the second place

The second stage: Pisco- Pisco 
6th January 2013, Sunday 
Connection distance: 85 km 
Special stage: 242 km 

Once again the beautiful weather. This is what was connecting todays stage with yesterdays prologue. The competitors had to deal with the 242 km long stage, whose brought them more into backlands and much higher above the sea. The same, very good, lasted also the performance of our driver Aleš Loprais and the whole crew of InstaForex Loprais team with number 503. Aleš was able to drive in high, but in his words not the highest dunes once again very fast and he was after the last years winner, De Rooy in Ivec. In the finish the difference between them was only one minute and one second, the sum 1+1 means the second place. On the other hand, something new in the “top 3” is the time of an Italian racer Miki Biasion from Iveco team. He lost little bit less than 8 minutes, which shows how small differences are between this years drives on Dakar. 

Thanks to the result you might think everything worked well to the guys, however it is not completely truth. Aleš complained a little bit today: 
“The stage was very beautiful, but also quite difficult. A lot of jumps trough dunes, which brings causes. I have a headache during the whole day and they are caused mainly by the security system HANs. It is necessary, but in my opinion completely useless. It hits the helmet from the back. You may imagine it as you are being hit by someone to the head whole morning!" 

“In spite those little troubles we are continuing with the Princess and fighting with the landscape. The crew is alive, Tatra drives and the whole team works quite well”, added happy, but tired Aleš Loprais. 

He was also modest and carefull trying to sum up his performance: 
“The first five drivers are really great. The race will be decided by the small things, such as defects, technic, but also by the navigation, which confused today a few other drivers, especially on the motorbikes and in the cars. We also saw Hans Stacey stuck in on of the dunes. I have seen many thing on the Dakar, so I try to be realistic talking about my position. Plus we are jumping with the Tatra a lot and I sometimes feel my back. Anyway, we are ready to make our best.” 

He did not forget to send his greetings to the czech fans back home and then he got back to the preparing for the third stage, which characteristics we bring below. 

The third stage 
Watch out, the Erg! 
7th January, Monday: Pisco- Nazca 
Connection distance: 100 km 
Special stage: 243 km 

The mood inside the trucks may be changed by increasing the stress. The first hundred kilometers will properly test the crews. They will have behind them quite difficult terrain called by the South Americans the Erg- it is a hard combination of duns, that must be beaten by the teams. All the competitors passing the Erg without getting stuck may be proud of themselves. The first reward will be driving alongside the coast in the second part of the stage. However, the relief will not last for long, because at the end of the stage there will be needed the drivings skill and the endurance of the crews. 

Lets hope for as good results as until now and lets beat the Erg!