“It starts hard, but good for us”: Gardois Romain Dumas in the top 5 of a chaotic first stage on the Dakar 2024

Dumas a réalisé une belle étape, samedi. A.S.O./Fotop/V.J.Branca

Cinquième de la première étaê du Dakar 2024 en auto, Romain Dumas a fait partie des rescapés d’une spéciale très caillouteuse, qui a fait de nombreux dégâts, samedi 6 janvier.

The Gardois himself suffered a puncture in the second kilometer, before recovering. His result immediately places him among the best.

"I equal my best result but it’s a stage that suits me, with gravel and no dunes, he moderates. That starts hard, but good for us"

Good start, too, for Aveyron co-driver Loïc Minaudier, eighth. All the regionals in the premier Ultimate category have more or less avoided the pitfalls since the Aveyron duo Jean-Rémy Bergounhe – Lionel Costes ranks 24th.

"It's been an ordeal. A real stage in Dakar"

Gard co-driver Valentin Sarreau finished 29th. "We had a few small technical problems with the car, but overall it's fine, he told us. It was an ordeal. A real stage in Dakar!"

Among the SSV too, the results are good. The Metge brothers, two co-drivers from Gard, finished in the top 10, as did Lozère co-driver Martin Bonnet the day after his victory in the prologue.

Nine hours of special for Biau

The stage ended late for them since the vehicles arrived at the bivouac during the night, due to the difficulties encountered as well as the postponement of the departure due to a accident earlier.

Aveyron biker Vincent Biau spent almost 9 hours in the special, but managed to take his machine to the finish. One box checked, only 11 left. 

Regional results

Auto Ultimate: Dumas – Delfino (Rebellion) 5th; Serradori – Minaudier (Century) 8th; Bergounhe – Costes (MD) 24th;  Lavieille – Sarreaud (MD) 29th.
Auto SSV: De Sadeleer – Metge (MMP) 4th;  De Soultrait – Bonnet (Loeb – Bardahl) 5th, Seaidan – Metge (MMP) 8th& nbsp;SSV; Vayssade – Rey (Loeb – Bardahl) 12th. 
Classic: Guy – Mauduit (Capôsud) 21e. 
Moto Rally2: Biau (VB x KRAY&Co) 97th.