Rest day in Arequipa

Rest day is actually the wrong term for the Saturday at the Dakar, as participants are not really able to rest. The race cars must be stripped down completely, given a thorough check and prepared for the second half of the race. The mechanics already started this work as soon as the cars arrived yesterday evening.The MINI JCW Buggy and MINI JCW Rally crews have a very early start tomorrow. The first car leaves the bivouac and starts the leg back to Marcona at 03:30. A total of 810 kilometers lie ahead of the drivers – 290 of them against the clock.

Everyone is waiting in great suspense to see what week two of the Dakar brings with it. Many are expecting it to be even tougher. Stéphane Peterhansel – MINI JCW Rally: “There were good points and bad points to come out of the first week. The best thing is that we are currently lying second overall. Plus, David did a very good job. Five days, and we have never gone the wrong way. On the negative side, however, I have made too many mistakes.”
Joan Nani Roma – MINI JCW Rally: “We knew how tough it would be in Peru. I think the second week will be even more tiring than the first part. It will remain exciting, right through to the finish. Anything can happen, right down to the last day.”