Twelve kilometers from the finish line of the fifth stage. This is how the members of the Guardia Civil Rallye Raid team find themselves, with the uncertainty of not knowing if they will be able to continue their adventure in the Dakar Argentina Chile 2011. The arrival of the dunes is causing a real headache for the participants and the organizers of the event.
The fifth stage of the Dakar Argentina Chile 2011 was held between the towns of Calama and Iquique, with 423 timed kilometers. The adventure left aside the stony terrain and fast tracks, to enter the dune area. The end of the stage had prepared a surprise for all participants.
The Guardia Civil Rallye Raid team started the stage from less to more. Once the initial navigation problems were solved, which made them occupy the last positions in the provisional classification in the first passage points, they were recovering positions. The objective was to cross the dune area before nightfall and further complicate the route.
The Terrano Proto with which José Manuel Salinero and José Manuel Galán have, was trapped in the dunes 12 kilometers from the finish line. The car won't start and they haven't managed to solve the problems. Salinero explains that they don't know "if it's an electrical problem or an engine problem" and adds that they need "mechanical assistance to get out of the area" where they are.
The members of the Guardia Civil Rallye Raid team are not the only ones who have had problems in the fifth stage. José Manuel Galán explains that "we have seen dozens of cars trapped in the dunes and they all need help to continue". Only 52 cars of the 130 that took the start at the beginning of the day had reached the finish line. Salinero and Galán have had to spend the night in the middle of the dunes and say they have been very cold.
José Manuel Salinero and José Manuel Galán are waiting to know the decision taken by the Dakar organization. If mechanical assistance is authorized, many of the vehicles that are trapped in the dunes could continue their adventure in the Dakar Argentina Chile.
