Dakar Rallye - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Vronsky · #1 01-10-2005, 05:34 AM

The Dakar rallye is now halfway, and as in previous years, half of the participants is already out. Is this rallye aired on TV in the US? In this edition, there are two American bikers competing, and they aren't doing that bad at all. Strange though that Mercedes is not involved in the event: perhaps they should redirect a little from their F1-funds to have a couple of ML's enter. This rallye is really spectacular, awesome images of endless African desert with bikes, trucks and cars racing at top speeds or bogged down at night in massive sand dunes. Lots of heroics and 'tragedies'. I'm glued to the screen each night to follow the events of the day. Great stuff.

bobbyv · #2 01-10-2005, 09:07 AM

I think those racing service trucks are an awesome sight ...

Kuan · #3 01-10-2005, 09:50 AM

ML's have been competing since Y2k. ML's won in '00 and '03. Pierre Strugo seems to be the most successful since he's finished every year.

Six ML's started this year including Strugo in an ML430 and also two Spanish teams driving a G270 CDI.

It seems like the ML430 is still going strong.

That Guy · #4 01-10-2005, 10:30 AM

I'm surprised.. I figured they would use G's instead of the ML's.
I wonder why?

Vronsky · #5 01-10-2005, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

ML's have been competing since Y2k. ML's won in '00 and '03. Pierre Strugo seems to be the most successful since he's finished every year.

Six ML's started this year including Strugo in an ML430 and also two Spanish teams driving a G270 CDI.

It seems like the ML430 is still going strong.

I guess there are lots of competition categories in the rallye, but in the top one, it's Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota, BMW and VW that are running the show. MB is totally absent there.

Kuan · #6 01-10-2005, 10:41 AM

The ML's race in the production class. You never get to see them. I think the ML's are better built for speed. Some of these flat sections see speed of 120mph for hours. Plus the ML's have nice cupholders.

#7 01-10-2005, 10:46 AM

Web cast's are here http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/v4/l0/s239/multimedia_lng0_spo239.shtml

Vronsky · #8 01-10-2005, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

The ML's race in the production class. You never get to see them. I think the ML's are better built for speed. Some of these flat sections see speed of 120mph for hours. Plus the ML's have nice cupholders.

I understand that even the race trucks (DAF, IVECO, KAMAZ, MAN, and yes Mercedes) do that kinds of speeds, even in rough terrain.....