Dakar 2016: the prologue interrupted after an accident between a car and spectators – The World

The prologue of the Rally Dakar 2016, played in 11 km near Arrecifes in the province of Buenos Aires, was interrupted after an accident between a car racing and spectators.

The car No. 360, led by a Chinese crew led by pilot Guo Meiling, made shortly before 18 hours (21 hours in Paris) off the road in a long straight and hit the spectators, making ten wounded. Two of them, a father and son, have been seriously. One suffers a head injury, the other a chest trauma, said Etienne Lavigne, director of the race, also stating that the prologue of the race was interrupted.

Four medicalized helicopters were deployed there, and three ambulances of the organization and eight local ambulances. The exact circumstances of the accident remain unclear: an investigation was opened by the local authorities and the Chinese crew is soon to be heard by the police

Read also:. Dakar 2016: Sebastien Loeb on the starting line

Loeb holds his rank

The start of the race, given this year from Tecnopolis, the “science city” of Buenos Aires, gathered less spectators in 2015. 650 000 people had then made the trip.

Before the accident, the 136 riders had completed the journey of 11 kilometers, as 45 drivers quad, the first to jump. The best time on two wheels was directed by Joan Barreda Bort Spanish (Honda) and Ruben Faria Portuguese (Husqvarna).

In the car category, 59 teams finished the special, the main Favourites – Mini and Peugeot – who held their rank. Sebastien Loeb, the nine-time world rally champion made a successful debut on the Dakar. He signed the same time as his illustrious team-mate at Peugeot, Stephane Peterhansel, who has won 11 times the test. Both concluded the prologue to 9 seconds behind the leader, Dutchman Bernhard Ten Brinke (Toyota).

The time of self crews arrived before the neutralization of the race are kept, while the other 51 teams will an allotted time, the terms remain to be defined by the organizers.

The competitors of the Dakar-2016 are expected to finish the race in Rosario, Argentina, on January 16, after a brief detour to Bolivia .

Classification and general prologue:

1. Bernhard Ten Brinke / Tom Colsoul (NED / BEL / Toyota) 6:08.

2. Carlos Sainz / Lucas Cruz (ESP / ESP / Peugeot) 3.

3. Xavier Pons / Torlaschi Ricardo Adrian (ESP / ARG / Ford) 4.

4. Nasser Al-Attiyah / Matthieu Baumel (QAT / FRA / Mini) 5.

5. Marek Dabrowski / Jacek Czachor (POL / POL / Toyota) 5.

6. Nani Roma / Alex Haro Bravo (ESP / ESP / Mini) 7.

7. Mikko Hirvonen / Michel Périn (FIN / FRA / Mini) 7.

8. Giniel de Villiers / Dirk von Zitzewitz (RSA / GER / Toyota) 9.

9. Stephane Peterhansel / Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA / FRA / Peugeot) 9.

10. Sébastien Loeb / Daniel Elena (FRA / MON / Peugeot) 9.