Central Europe Rally 2008 : Central Europe Rally

Breaking news (GMT + 1)

18:32 - Truck

400 - A surprise from Van Delm, while Stacey rolls on

Belgian Peter Van Delm (MAN) created a surprise by winning the 2nd special of the day, and the stage as a result. However this was insufficient to stop Hans Stacey being the day’s major winner. Taking advantage of mechanical problems suffered by his rivals, the Czech Ales Loprais (Tatra) and Brazilian Andre de Azevedo (Tatra), the Dutchman now has a lead of more than 12 minutes in the general standings.

18:25 - Quad

118 - Hubert Deltrieu takes the lead

Frenchman Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris) won the day’s stage and took the overall lead in the rally 1’04” ahead of Romanian Irimescu. The former leader, Hungarian Lazlo Szabo, is in third place but already trails the leader by 8’35”.

18:16 - Car

213 - Depping wins the stage, Peterhansel leads the general standings

The best time for the day’s second special went to Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW), but he was beaten into 2nd place by the young German driver Dieter Depping (VW). After finishing the stage third, Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi) has grabbed the lead of the general standings, 22" ahead of the former leader, Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW).

14:38 - Bike

3 - David Casteu takes control

Frenchman David Casteu (KTM) has won the 2nd special of the day, shortened to 36 km, 36" ahead of David Frétigné (Yamaha) and 58" in front of Cyril Despres (KTM). Taking advantage of Despres’s mechanical worries and the withdrawal of Marc Coma in the day’s first special, David Casteu, winner of both time-trials today, has also taken control of the general standings.

14:12 - Quad

118 - Victory in the special for Deltrieu

Frenchman Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris) won the first special, 41" in front of Romanian Paul Razvan Irimescu (Polaris). Hungary’s Lazlo Szabo grabbed 3rd place, 7’40 behind the winner, which means he loses the lead of the general standings.

13:59

Special shortened for the 2nd loop

Due to the particularly poor state of the terrain following the competitors’ journey round the first loop, and with grooves more than 80 cm deep, the organisers have decided to shorten the second loop this afternoon, to a distance of 36 km.

13:45 - Truck

400 - Stacey comforts his lead

Already leading the general standings, Dutchman Hans Stacey (MAN) won the first special of the day 34’’ ahead of another MAN truck driven by German Franz Echter. The Czech Marek Spacil (Liaz) finished 3rd, 3’30” behind the winner. Bad news, however, for the Czech Republic’s Ales Loprais, who was second in the general standings this morning: he was experiencing tyre pressure problems and then had a puncture towards the end of the special. As a result, the Tatra driver lost more than 30 minutes.

11:27 - Car

200 - Peterhansel takes the upper hand

With a time of 59’12”, Stephane Peterhansel has won the 1st special of the day, 5" in front of German Dieter Depping (VW). Frenchman Luc Alphand (Mitsubishi) placed himself provisionally in 3rd place. The leader of the general standings this morning, Spaniard Carlos Sainz, finished 2’08” behind the winner.

11:22 - Bike

2 - Coma out of the race!

After falling during the first special of the day, Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM), who was leading the general standings this morning, has decided to abandon due to severe pain in his right knee. The winner of the 2006 Dakar has been taken to the hospital in Baia Mare to have his knee examined.

10:24 - Bike

1 - Mechanical problem for Despres

Due to a problem with his milometer just after waypoint 1, Frenchman Cyril Despres, occupying 2nd place in the general standings, missed an intersection and rode for 6 km on the wrong track before rejoining the day’s route. As a result, the Gallic rider crossed the finishing line of the first loop almost 15 minutes behind the day’s winner.

10:05 - Car

201 - The cars are on their way

Spain’s Carlos Sainz (VW) got to grips with the day’s first special for the car category at 09.23 as scheduled. He was followed by Robby Gordon (Hummer), Giniel De Villiers (VW) and Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi).

09:57 - Bike

3 - Casteu takes the first loop

Fifth to start this morning, David Casteu (KTM) has won the first special of the day. The Frenchman made the most of the situation when leader of the general standings Marc Coma came off his bike. Casteu beat the Spaniard, who came second, by 2’21”. Provisional 3rd place went to American Jonah Street, 2’49” behind the winner of this first time-trial section.

08:22 - Bike

2 - Marc Coma gets the day’s first special underway

Having won the first stage of the rally and obviously leading in the general standings, Spaniard Marc Coma set off at 07.20 this morning to tackle the day’s first special stage. He was followed by Cyril Despres, Jordi Viladoms and David Casteu.

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