<![CDATA[Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles]]>http://www.rallyeaichadesgazelles.comK3Soft v3<![CDATA[Happy Birthdays!]]>11512010-03-21T11:04:59-04:00Marie Pichot, clothing designer, 25 years old today and already in her 2nd participation (Team 166 - Parmentine); and Canadians Manon St-Louis (41 today, manager - Team 118 - Banque Laurentienne), and Ariane Gagné-Frégeau (26 today, student - Team 126 - Nurun). A birthday in the dunes de Merzouga... how "cool" is that!

]]><![CDATA[Race notes Saturday 14:30 - a challenging leg]]>11452010-03-21T10:40:23-04:00getting to the checkpoints...  As the weather has been dry and hot lately, the sand is soft and thick and driving is difficult in the dunes.
Of the 95 teams (4x4 and quads) out of 101 who chose the route through the dunes (a number that increases every year), there have already been 6 calls for assistance from teams stuck in the sand... whereas normally the Gazelles balk at requesting assistance, synonymous with a 200-point penalty.
Quad teams 22 and 23 and 4x4 teams 116, 133, 138, 161, 162 and 192 have left the dunes after finding all the CPs there; teams 155, 160 who chose the route around the dunes have already reached CP5.
Note that Team 112 (Sandrine RIDET and Céline BONO - SDIS 13) have broken their suspension and are waiting for mechanical assistance.
Don't lose heart, Gazelles: the second part of this marathon leg should focus more on navigation, with less need for "elbow grease"!
]]><![CDATA[Temporary results for Leg 2]]>11342010-03-20T04:33:42-04:00
While the difficulty and length of Leg 2 have helped to determine a fairly clear ranking within the Moto/Quad and Crossover classes, the top 5 seem fairly well established.

The results of Leg 2 :

In the 4x4 class, the competitors promised action, and that is what we got in leg 2: Team 138 (Florence MIGRAINE-BOURGNON and Corentine QUINIOU - TOYOTA FRANCE), in first position after yesterday's leg, finished 4th today with 38 penalty points following difficulties in finding CP5.
One team's error is another team's pleasure, Team 155 (Syndiely WADE and Carole MONTILLET - AXECIBLES VICAT) lead today's leg with 26.5 points thanks to precise navigation. 26.5 points is not a lot, but this does not intimidate Team 181 (Réjane PENNEQUIN and Marie-Hélène PENNEQUIN - NUDANT AUTOMOBILES), second in today's leg who earn only 6 more penalty points. Third place goes to Team 192 (Sophie TAKENOUTI and Anne LE GOUAIS - A2B Collections), not far behind with 37.5 points.

They were followed, in order, by: Teams 138, 170, 167, 121, 162, 125 and, the surprise of the day, Team 199 composed of our two male Gazelles, David Casteu and Eric Loizeau. A leg that allowed no team to really stand out. Patience, the sands of Erg Chebbi (or dunes of Merzouga) should work their magic tomorrow!


In the Crossover class, watch those Dacia Dusters! Whether through the skill of the competitors, or the capacities of this vehicle which will only appear on the market in April, Teams 315 (Isabelle CHARLES and Dounia BENNANI - DACIA) and 316 (Nathalie DESCOUT and Dorothée TOPIN - DACIA) finish the leg in first and second place with 164 and 181 points. The competition is not far behind: the Mercedes Sprinter of Team 317 (Andréa SPIELVOGEL and Bettina SINGHARTINGER - MERCEDES BENZ) is just 14 points behind Team 316...


In the quad class, an honourable performance for Team 22 (Karine CANDES and Valérie DOT - THIERRY TRANSPORTS) who finish with just 34.5 penalty points. The second team in today's leg is far behind, with 94.5 points.


Consult the day's rankings by type of vehicle


First participation:

A lot changed today for this year's novice teams: Team 197 finished in 36nd place, Team 149 14th, and Team 156, 17th. The queens of the day in the First Participation 4x4 class are Teams 188, 151 and 129 with 95, 103 and 104 penalty points respectively. The dice have been cast!


In the crossover class, Team 317, yesterday's leader among the new participants, earned 194 penalty points today, just 13 behind today's leadr, the Dacia Duster of Team 316.


CMR Challenge (Car Manufacturer and Media Relay):

Team 138 (a Toyota Land Cruiser) confirmed yesterday's performance, finishing in first place with 41.5 points. Team 137 (Hit Radio, in a Toyota Hilux) finished second with 73 points.


Consult the day's rankings by Challenge


Male Gazelles, Team 199 :

The only masculine team, composed of David Casteu and Eric Loizeau (199), does slightly beter than yesterday, finishing in tenth position. ne gagne qu'une place en prenant la dixième place. While the first two legs demonstrate the high level of competition among the event's top 15 teams, our two Gazous (male gazelles) can be proud of their performance!


The General Rankings:

In the 4x4 class, Team 155's exemplary performance today pushes them into first place with 31.5 points, ahead of Team 138 with 41 points. Third place is taken by Team 181 with 42 points. The competition will be tight in the top 10!

In the Moto/Quad class, the ranking order, from first to fourth, is 23, 22, 21 et 20. A "perfect" order which is more then likely to change over the next week!

In the Crossover class, Team 315 leads the pack with 189 points, followed by 317 and 316.


Tomorrow, the teams will move on to "serious business" as they confront the dunes of Merzouga, which are sure to impress even the most experienced Gazelles.
]]><![CDATA[News flash 21:00 - the pump has reached the bivouac!]]>11302010-03-20T04:25:52-04:00Brigitte Dasseux, Communications Manager for La Poste. Of course, it is also thanks to La Poste that the team has been flooded with emails of encouragement!
]]><![CDATA[Race notes 20:30 - which teams will not be back tonight?]]>11282010-03-20T04:21:11-04:00It is time to take stock of this second leg. At 20:30, 86 teams have returned to the bivouac, 24 are still out on the course. Not all of these are intending to spend the night off the bivouac: only Teams 130, 140, 143 and 131 plan to pitch their tents... in the middle of nowhere!

]]><![CDATA[News flash 06:00 - Start of Leg 3, first Marathon leg!]]>11272010-03-20T04:07:59-04:00
Marathon Leg? A single leg which takes... two days instead of one! No bivouac this evening, so the competitors will camp out in the middle of the dunes. As they do every year, they will get together in groups and spend the evening around a cheery campfire.
This will be an added challenge for the Gazelles who are already feeling the effects of the last two days of competition. But today's route will take them through some magnificent scenery in the dunes of Merzouga (Erg Chebbi), the highest in the Kingdom of Morocco... An added motivation for our participants who, despite their fatigue, are eager and excited to use their shovels and sand ladders!
]]><![CDATA[Focus on the Total teams]]>11112010-03-19T15:48:43-04:00
The birthday of Cécile HAAG (Team 140 - TOTAL EP/TDO), 29 years old today, is a good occasion to take a look at the four 4 teams that Total's Exploration Production division entered in the Rallye this year.

4 teams of Gazelles from 4 different countries: France (Team 140), Nigeria (Team 141: Tolulope LUKANMBI and Ibimina ABIODUN), Congo (Team 142: Marie-Claude MOURA and Frédérique MOYOU-OLLESSONGO) and Cameroon (Team 143: Aretha-Louise MBANGO and Véronique-Ta ago KAYEM).
They all have certain things in common: a taste for adventure, meeting people, discovery, working in a multicultural environment, and surpassing their limits.
And this is exactly what they are experiencing at the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles: for example today Cécile Haag and Adelaide Fanton d'Anton (140), while heading for CP3, found themselves in a dangerous zone covered in huge tufts of camel grass... and ended up getting cross-axled. A complex situation, but they manage to get out of it without calling for assistance.
It is no accident that they are here in the Rallye!
]]><![CDATA[Andréanne Guimont, from quad to organizer]]>11072010-03-19T14:57:33-04:00
Geographer by training, school secretary and municipal web journalist, Andréanne is a diminutive 30-year old who lives three hours from Montréal. Her creed: a passion for discovery!

Last year, the dynamic Québécoise took part in her first Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc, with her sister in law, at the handlebars of a quad: "After spending nearly two years getting the money together, we thought we would have to put off our participation until 2010, but a generous sponsor allowed us to balance our budget in extremis!"

A month ago, when the opening came up, she jumped at the chance to put on the vest once more, this time that of the Rallye's organizers. Journalist for the 16 Quebec teams, her mission is to transmit a daily write-up on the Quebec competitors to a press agent, who coordinates and relays the information to various media in Quebec. And since the teams are all Rallye novices this year, this is a good opportunity, especially for the quad team, to learn from Andréanne's experience and invaluable advice.

In March 2010, the former Gazelle is once again setting out through the dunes and along the oueds, this time, to her delight, with a GPS!



]]><![CDATA[Race notes 15:48 - teams at CP7]]>11012010-03-19T14:33:21-04:00CP7 has been reached by teams 135, 151 and 112. Before returning to the bivouac, our Gazelles need to head back south to CP8, which is to the east of the bivouac.]]><![CDATA[Race notes 15:16 - Team 138, current leader, should lose a dozen points]]>11002010-03-19T14:20:42-04:00Team 138 (Corentine Quiniou and Florence Migraine Bourgnon - Questions de Femmes) had trouble finding their fifth checkpoint. The pilot and her navigator deviated east of CP5 before doubling around to the west to reach it. Now they are heading for CP6. This detour could cost them their position at the head of the general ranking. Florence Bourgnon and Corentine Quiniou are the only three-time winning team of the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles.

]]><![CDATA[Race notes 12:54 - progressing well ]]>10952010-03-19T11:14:16-04:00On the Race PC's satellite tracking system (Iritrack), it can be seen that most of the competitors have adapted well to today's little "surprise".
Team 156 (Christa VOLKE et Suzanne KUNZ - Volke Compagny Group) seems to have strayed off course; after their 5th checkpoint, they are headed too far north, away from their CP6 which lies to the west. 
In order to reach their 6th checkpoint, Team 125 (Claudine AMAT and Christine LALOUE - Coiffure Elle et Lui) have to take the Tabridia Fault which leads to a second plateau about forty metres lower.
Team 167 continues to stick to their headings, in spite of a temporary deviation, quickly rectified. But most impressive of all is Team 155 (Syndiely WADE and Carole MONTILLET - Axecibles Vicat), ranked 3rd after yesterday's leg, who are driving as the crow flies... straight towards their CP5. 
]]><![CDATA[News flash 11:30 - a water pump to fly in from Paris Orly!]]>10942010-03-19T10:07:54-04:00
Since this morning, the vehicle belonging to Team 164, made up of Isabelle Danjou, former rowing champion, and Nathalie Benoît, silver medal-winning adaptive rower, has been stuck at the mechanics workshop. Luckily, the Gazelles were able to get the car to the start line this morning, permitting them to stay in the race despite a full day of penalties. The water pump of their ML is "out of service". Local calls in an attempt to locate a replacement pump in Morocco did not bear fruit: the part they need is nowhere to be found. The new pump leaves Paris Orly Airport in a couple of hours, and will reach the bivouac during the night.

And guess who is bringing it? Brigitte Dasseux, communicator for... La Poste, coming to follow the progress of the 5 yellow Kangoos. Which goes to show, La Poste delivers anywhere, even in the middle of the desert!


]]><![CDATA[Race note 09:51 - heading due north]]>10922010-03-19T08:14:49-04:00most of the competitors have reached CP1 and CP2 without too much difficulty. Team 167 (Sophie and Céline GASTINE - Catherine Parra), first in the 4x4 class general ranking, seem to be following an excellent heading and are about to reach CP3. While the quads 22 (Karine CANDES and Valérie DOT - Thierry Transports) (1st in the Quad general ranking) are only at CP2, the pilots are clearly in control of their navigation.
Team 129 (Stéphany MAILLERY and Edith ROBILLARD - Globocam) aren't wasting any time: they are moving rapidly from CP to CP and are only 6km from CP5!
There have been several navigation errors this morning: Teams 163 (Dorianne SCHILLACI and Fabienne GALIDIE - SNEI Lempdes), 198 (Caroline PEREZ and Régine MAITREL - Abysse Automobile) and 130 (Jacqueline and Shaday LAVALLEE - Groupe Charbonneau) headed for CP6... without stoppng first at CP4 and CP5. After heading south-east, Team 187 (Maryon CREZE and Dominique DUFIEUX - Adonis Technologie) have corrected their error and are now heading in the right direction. 
As yet, no calls for assistance have been made.
]]><![CDATA[Race info 08:00: the teams that did not come back to the bivouac]]>10902010-03-19T08:02:34-04:00114 - Heliatech adjusted the tire pessure on their Isuzu D Max and took the start for Leg 2 without further delay.
Team 148 - Toyota is still at the bivouac, getting ready to leave. Things look a little more complicated for Team 119 - C10 Nuget-Naveau; the mechanics are checking their vehicle.
Still not back: Team 20 - Normandeau Nathalie, 126 - Nurun and 187 - Adonis Technologie who are still on their way to the bivouac. Our Gazelles have a time limit: they have to take the start for Leg 2 before noon in order to stay in the race and avoid being "Unranked".]]><![CDATA[The second leg is on!]]>10892010-03-19T07:53:24-04:00
Beginning at 06:00, the teams take the start of this unusual leg. Every team will need to readjust their strategy, identify reference points, adapt to the day's tools in order to manage this second leg.
On the start line, despite the note of fatigue that can already be heard in their voices, the Gazelles are concentrated and ready for this new chalenge.
About a hundred metres after the start line, a dozen teams have stopped to calculate their heading and to get their bearings on a map that is not the same as the ones they have used so far... (to find out more about this morning's briefing).

]]><![CDATA[Briefing: a map with some surprises]]>10882010-03-19T07:05:37-04:00Dominique Serra, Director-General of the Rallye, hands the microphone to Eric Loizeau and David Casteu, on the dawn of their third and last day at the 20th edition of the Rallye. The two "male Gazelles" congratulate the Gazelles just before going to get their roadbook for the day: "You are impressive, especially those who have no experience. When I see you bent over the engine, changing the air filter... This is really not a vacation! Follow your dream!". The story of an unforgettable experience, a message that they will spread to the sports media, confirming that this is, in fact, a serious sports event.




The event's Sporting Director Jean-Pierre Berthet then takes the microphone, before a sea of white vests finishing up their breakfast. Today, he is awaited with impatience, as he is about to reveal the famous surprise that has been speculated about all over the bivouac since the end of yesterday's leg.
But he keeps them stewing a little longer, while he presents Ludovic Taché: "He is THE voice you hear on the Iritrak when you call for assistance, and he is in charge of the Race PC. If you have any complaints about today's surprise, go see him!"



A few more minutes, to wish a happy birthday to Cécile Haag (Team 140 - Total EP/TDO), 29 years old today, and Pierre-Romain Bailly of the mechanics team.


So, the surprise? No, no, not yet! Jean-Pierre Berthet gives a reminder of certain Sporting Regulations, which carried a high price for some teams yesterday: losing your Log Sheet: 100 points; calling for mechanical assistance: 200 points, even if you manage to fix your own problem before the mechanics arrive... another team may suffer from your lack of judgement, if the mechanics are delayed in reaching them. Make sure that you really need help before asking for it.

The surprise, the surprise, come on! At 05:13 GMT/Moroccan time, the secret is finally unveiled by Jean-Pierre Berthet: "We wanted to test something: we are going to give you your roadbooks, but they are... blank! But your route is already marked on your map for the day; the checkpoints are already plotted. The relief is shown as usual; the scale is the same as usual (1:100 000). The difference is that today's map has no grid lines. We have erased all geographic coordinates and the latitude and longitude scales! You will have only heading and distance to work with. To do that, you only need to know your North, which is given by the line on the left of the map, framing the map legend (which is not in its usual place)."

Quite a surprise, what a change! Will this be easier, or not? Overall, the Gazelles' immediate reaction is to be on their guard, not to trust this little "gift": "We have tried to identify some reference points. The route is a lot longer than yesterday in terms of kilometres! So we're going to make sure that we leave in the right direction!" says Nathalie BENOIT, Team 164 - Premalliance.
Séverine and Corinne (Team 111 - Modern Optique) are more optimistic: "We're not worried, on the contrary: we don't have to calculate anything early in the morning!"

Bonne route, les Gazelles.
To be continued...

]]><![CDATA[Dacia to launch its latest vehicle at the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles!]]>8922010-03-07T17:09:22-05:00
Due to hit the marketplace in April 2010, we will be offered a preview of this vehicle in action in its natural environment in March 2010:  Teams 315 (I. Charles & D. Bennani) and 316 (D.Topin & N. Descout) are taking part in the 20th edition of the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles on board the DUSTER.

By taking part in the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles 2010, Dacia is testifying to its confidence in the DUSTER’s performance by taking the daring step of entering its latest 4WD in this human and sporting adventure a month before its official market launch!
]]><![CDATA[ANDRE MANOUKIAN, PATRON OF HEART OF GAZELLES]]>8912010-03-07T17:05:43-05:00
André Manoukian, French songwriter, arranger, actor and jazz musician, is the patron of Heart of Gazelles.

He will be “in the field” to inaugurate the association’s new projects. Read accounts of his experiences during the Rallye in "Heart of Gazelles”.


Photo credit: François Marquet




]]><![CDATA[Mary's Dream to give private concert in Essaouira on March 27th]]>8882010-03-07T16:53:59-05:00
French folk-pop-rock band Mary's Dream will close the 20th edition of the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles with a private concert during the Gala evening in Essaouira on March 27th.

“We are delighted to accept the invitation of the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles, with whom we share the same values. It is an honour for us to associate our music with the Gazelle Spirit, and we can’t wait to combine your dreams with our own…”

Mary’s Dream


Listen to Mary's Dream on Youtube: "It kills me inside" and "Je pars"
]]><![CDATA[The Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles on W9 and Téva]]>8872010-03-07T16:46:16-05:00
Watch a short program on the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles every evening from Monday March 15th to Friday March 26th 2010 at approximately 20:30 (before Le Prime) on W9 and approximately 20:20 (before Le Prime) on TEVA (French TV).



]]><![CDATA[daily program on M6]]>8752010-03-05T08:50:57-05:00
From 13th to 28th March, watch the short daily program "Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles" at 19h45 on M6 (french national channel)

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