The grueling Dakar rally got underway yesterday with 372 competitors spread among the cars, trucks, bikes and quads. Versus is showing 1/2-hour highlight shows of the previous day's stage at 3:30 pm and usually repeated at 6:30 pm.
There has been some shake up from last year's drivers line up. Nissan and Mitsubishi do not have a factory effort this year and two top drivers, Nani Roma of Spain and Stephane Peterhansel of France, have switched to BMWs (tube-framed X3 diesels). Nassas Al-Attiyah (Qatar) has moved from a BMW to Volkswagen. Carlos Sainz (Spain) and Mark Miller (USA) are back in Volkswagens. NASCAR driver Robby Gordon is back for another try in his rear-wheel drive Hummer. Johan Street is the top American motorcycle rider with a KTM.
Spoiler warning! Unofficial results in the cars after the 2nd stage:
1. Al-Attiyah VW
2. Sainz VW
3. Peterhansel BMW
4. Miller VW
8. Roma BMW
9. Gordon Hummer
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