Central Europe Rally 2008 : Central Europe Rally

Breaking news (GMT + 1)

16:19 - Car

201 - 9 hours and 40’ of racing and a short 18" lead for Sainz in the general standings!

If American driver Robby Gordon (Hummer) won the second timed special of the day, 1" ahead of Carlos Sainz (VW), the Spaniard nevertheless won the penultimate stage with a lead of 40" on Stéphane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi). Consequence of this stage victory, "El Matador" (the bullfighter) strengthens his position in top position of the rally with now... a lead of 18 little seconds over "Peter"!

The 3rd place in the general standings is also the scene of a tough fight as Germany’s Dieter Depping (VW) just stole his 3rd position to Luc Alphand (Mitsubishi), who was beaten in today’s special but only by a short 7 seconds!

15:00 - Bike

8 - The second best clock for Katrinak

Just as he did in the first special, Slovak biker Jaroslav Katrinak (KTM) made the second best time in the second special and - hence - finishes 2nd of today’s stage, 1’51 behind winner Cyril Despres. Despite his penalty points, the Slovak is therefore 11th in the overall rankings but 1h01’09 behind rankings leader David Casteu.

14:53 - Bike

1 - The Despres show goes on...

Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) won the day’s second special, 22" ahead of David Casteu (KTM) and 30" ahead of Francisco Lopez (KTM). He therefore is the logical winner of the penultimate stage, 2’59 ahead of Alain Duclos, who ranks 4th this afternoon, and steals exactly 4’ to the leader in the overall rankings, Casteu. This good result is however not enough to worry Casteau, leader in the overall, who now has a 4’28 lead on Lopez and a 12’11 lead on Despres.

14:17 - Truck

400 - New stage victory for Stacey

Already more than solid leader in the overall rankings this morning, Dutchman Hans Stacey (MAN) increased his lead again by winning the only truck special of the day 6’48 ahead of Czech Republic’s Ales Loprais (Tatra) and 7’48 ahead of Dutchman Wulfert Van Ginkel (Ginaf). Stacey now has a 31’41 lead on Van Ginkel and a 49’23 lead on Loprais - ranking 3rd - at the top of the rally’s rankings.

13:34 - Truck

No second special for trucks today...

Just like yesterday - and again at the request of all competitors in the truck category - the organizers decided to cancel the second 53 km-long special of the day on grounds of technical caution. The monster trucks enrolled in the race will go straight back to the lock park after the first 156 km special.

11:57 - Car

201 - An exceptional duel for the lead!

As the first five cars had reached the end of the first special of the day, Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW) was ranking first of the special 28" ahead of Stéphane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi) and 2’01 ahead of Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit (BMW). This means that "El Matador" is back in the first position of the overall rankings just 6 little seconds ahead of "Peter"!

11:43 - Quad

118 - Deltrieu on a winning streak

More than ever in the lead in the overall rankings, France’s Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris) added a new special victory to his winning streak and arrived 53" ahead of Christophe Declerck (Yamaha). He now has a 44’19 lead over his countryman in the rally rankings.

11:29 - Car

201 - Sainz back in the lead

Spain’s Carlos Sainz (VW) was in the lead at CP2 at km 113 of the special 13" in front of Stéphane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi)!

11:27 - Car

204 - Mechanical problem for Nani Roma

Spaniard Nani Roma (Mitsubishi) had to stop by the side of the road at km 90 of the special because of a steering problem and is trying to repair.

11:03 - Car

200 - Peterhansel in the lead at CP1

Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi) was in the lead at CP1 located at km 63 of the first special of the day, 11" ahead of his main contender in the overall rankings Carlos Sainz (VW). Provisional 3rd best time goes to Guerlain Chicherit (BMW), clocked 46" behind Peterhansel and 15" ahead of Luc Alphand (Mitsubishi).

10:58 - Bike

8 - Second best time for Katrinak

Slovak biker Jaroslav Katrinak (KTM) is clocked with the 2nd best time so far in the special, 1’32 behind Cyril Despres and 20" ahead of Alain Duclos.

10:30 - Bike

1 - Despres attacks...

Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) won the first special of this penultimate stage, 1’52 ahead of Alain Duclos (KTM), which brings him back to the 3rd place in the overall rankings. Presently ranking 5th 3’38 from the winner of the special, overall rankings leader David Casteu (KTM) only gave in 19" to his closest contender Chile’s Francisco Lopez (KTM), who is - for the time being - 4th of the special.

10:10 - Bike

1 - Despres in the lead at CP2

France’s Cyril Despres (KTM) was in the lead at CP2, located at km 113 of today’s special; he was timed 55" ahead of Alain Duclos (KTM) and 1’30 ahead of Chile’s Francisco Lopez (KTM). In 5th position for the time being in this special, the leader of the overall rankings, David Casteu (KTM) was clocked 2’11 behind Despres.

08:45 - Bike

3 - Casteu first to start the penultimate stage

It is under a radiant spring sun and a bright blue sky that David Casteu (KTM) started - at 8:00 AM as per schedule - the first special of the penultimate stage of this first Central Europe Rally. He was followed by Chile’s Francisco Lopez (KTM) and Spain’s Jose Manuel Pellicer (Yamaha).

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