Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles

Analysis of the day's results: "anything could happen"

We saw it coming after the Prologue, and we were right: the competition for the podium is going to be tough. A long first leg, minimum 192.8 km, took place today across varied but not particularly difficult terrain. Not too difficult, but  requiring some extra kilometres in order to reach all 7 checkpoints. A look at the results of the first leg...

RACE NOTES 19:26 - comments straight from the finish line

Team 124 (Syndiely WADE and Carole MONTILLET-CARLES - AXECIBLES), who finished 3rd in the Prologue, has just crossed the finish line. Syndiely, in the role of copilot, shares her first impressions with us: "Relatively easy overall, except for the 7th checkpoint: I walked for about half an hour to check if it was where we thought it should be... We just managed to get back to the bivouac before dark!"
And what do the new participants think? For Audrey of Team 316 (with Sonia ELFAKIR - DACIA), who is all smiles at the finish line, "Amazing! A bit difficult because it was hard to see the landmarks, but we got all 7 checkpoints! We can't wait till tomorrow..." before adding after a moment's hesitation "um... after a good night's sleep!"

 

RACE NOTES 18:46: "back to home base!"

Following an intervention by the assistance truck to extricate their vehicle from an unlucky encounter with a tuft of camel grass, Team 187 (Christel RASCLARD VILLAUME and Moana TOGAVALEVALE – AGPM), more accustomed to navigation at sea because they are in the French Navy, made their decision: "We already called assistance for the electrical problem... we're stopping here for today, back to home base!" The "base" in question being, of course, the bivouac, which other teams are also hoping to reach before nightfall. Four of them are still in the area of CP4. However, most of the teams are close enough to the bivouac to make it back before dark.
Team 147 (Natacha FOUCAULT and Catherine TOUTAIN - BAKER TILLY FRANCE) are having engine trouble. The mechanics have already responded to their call for assistance and should be radioing in their report shortly.

Don't miss the analysis of today's results this evening on the website!

RACE NOTES 17:25

The great majority of the 4x4 teams are now approaching CP6.
The first team to return to the bivouac with all 7 checkpoints is Team 133, arrival at 17:20 with only 12.82 km of penalty points.
8 other teams have also returned to the bivouac, with incomplete tally sheets.  Team 108 decided to call it a day after spending the afternoon looking for (and finding) their CP3.
Teams 150 and 122 are heading for the bivouac from CP7, and should arrive any minute.

Anecdote of the day: Team 146 had to call for technical assistance after losing their map in a "sorcière", a sudden violent  whirlwind. Assistance is on the way with a new map.

Crossovers:
Team 319 has reached CP7 and is heading for the bivouac. Teams 318 and 312 are approaching CP7, followed by Team 316.
Teams 317 and 315 are searching for CP6.

Quads:
Team 22 continue to establish their lead as they approach CP7.
Teams 20 and 21 are at CP6.

Unusual event: an extra team was spotted crossing the finish line... unfortunately, no team number was visible on the vehicle...

RACE BRIEF 15:30

At 15:30, 4x4 class:
Team 123 experienced an electrical problem with their vehicle. Helped out by Team 129 in Fezzou, they were able to carry on.
Team 187 also had an electrical problem, and ended up calling for assistance. They also requested technical assistance to get out of the sand, after which they resumed their course.
Teams 128 and 101 are on their way back to the bivouac, after reaching CP1 and CP4 respectively.

Leading the pack in 4x4 class: Teams 194, 133, 122, 150 and 175 are approaching CP7.
Some teams, having not yet reached CP3, have decided to call it a day and return to the bivouac, hoping to do better tomorrow.

Crossover class:
Teams 318 and 319 are in the lead with good navigation, followed by Teams 312, 315 and 317.
Team 314 is on the way back to the bivouac after reaching 3 checkpoints.

Quad class:
The three quad teams are blazing a trail with very impressive navigation.
Team 22 is in the lead, approching CP6.
Team 20 is at CP5, closely followed by Team 21.
The three teams still have time to reach the rest of their checkpoints before the CPs close at 19:15.

RACE NOTES 11:47 - advancing well!

Midday report, straight from the Race PC: the first teams have just reached CP4 and are having no problem sticking to their headings across the wide plains. The sandstorm, still quite intense, does not apear to be having much effect on the competitors' performance. But the day's real challenge is yet to come: to reach CP7, the teams will have to make their way across some rugged terrain characterized by a series of rocky valleys, with the impressive Timzizouit in the background, which means "impossible to cross". But not to worry, Timzizouit is not part of today's route; the competitors will avoid it by following a 45° heading back to the bivouac.

RACE NOTES 08:50: Heading for CP2

Most of the teams have already reached CP1 without any problems: a gentle introduction for a competition whose level of difficulty is going to increase exponentially in the days to come. Only teams 156, 157 and 142 have not yet reached the first checkpoint.

Yesterday's favourites, 124, 129 and 149 confirm their skill today with careful "crow flies" headings. Good news on the weather front, the wind is dying down and visibility is improving. No requests for technical assistance so far: the first leg is progressing smoothly!

RACE BRIEF 06:36 - Impressions from the start line

Impressions recorded in the heat of the action at the start line: Team 159 (Florence DERAMOND and Laurence USUNIER - GROUPE MAORI) who finished 1st yesterday with only 790 metres over the "as the crow flies" distance, are extremely motivated and "don't plan to come back until they find all 7 checkpoints".

Team 129 (Jeanette JAMES and Anne-Marie BORG - MERCEDES BENZ) second in yesterday's prologue, are concerned about "the competition, it's intense, with 49 vehicles that finished yesterday under 10 km, I've never seen that happen!". A competition that will be intensified by today's  reduced visibility due to the sandstorm.

05:00 - sport briefing for the first leg

The schedule will quickly become routine: wakeup call at 04:00, briefing at 05:00, departure at 06:00. Jean-Pierre Berthet, the event's Sport Director, talks about the previous day's prologue and presents the first leg that will count towards the ranking.

Today the competitors will be hunting for 7 CPs along a 190-km route "through a fairly uncomplicated region" giving them the chance to deal with a variety of terrains including sand, stones and some faster open plateaus...

04:00 - A gentle awakening...

Apart from the mechanical workshops, where the finishing touches are being put to the last vehicles, all is calm at the bivouac... until a smooth voice comes to rouse the 2011 Gazelles from their slumber. And this voice belongs to Dominique Serra, weaving her way between the tents in the bivouac's sleeping zone. A concert of tent zippers and a ballet of headlamps follow her steps. A first burst of laughter at 4:08 in the morning, how is this possible! And yet, even though some teams were up late preparing their map and reviewing their navigation techniques, good humour reigns over the vilage of tents, as can be heard in the cheerful "bonjour" in stereo from Teams 112 and 115 in response to "Domi". "Domi's wakeup call is quite nice", says Valérie of Team 179. No time to waste, the Gazelles are expected at 05:00 for a briefing on the day's leg. The day is just beginning!

They won't sleep at the bivouac tonight...

Teams 158, 183, 195 and 165 are all within 30 km of the bivouac. But while yesterday the organizers made an exception by accompanying stray Gazelles back to the bivouac, tonight those who didn't make it back on their own will stay where they are until the sun comes up. Unable to see the lie of the land, it is impossible for them to navigate. But there is nothing to worry about, because the Gazelles are equipped to spend the night outside the bivouac. The Race PC, operational 24/7, is on the alert for any calls for assistance and can quickly dispatch the organizers and doctor who are also spending the night "outside", ready to intervene. Contacted via the radio of an organizer on the scene, Team 158, who had hoped to reach CP7 before sunset (Isabelle ALEXANDRE and Sabine VEDIE - ROTO EST IMPRIMERIE), is getting ready for a quiet night. "Everything is fine! We're eating some sausage with a few slices of bread, and then going to bed. We'll be back at the bivouac tomorrow morning!" Remember, teams have until noon to start the next leg, which shouldn't pose a problem. In the meantime, we wish them a very good night... in the middle of the desert!