08.01.2012

So far tuffest stage (7th stage) in Dakara, finish reached only 46 drivers, and the rest of the crews didn’t suceed to finish because of various reasons – also because of the approaching darkness of the night. The best of "RE Autoclub" drivers were Anton Melnikov / Anton Nikolaev ("Mitsubishi Pajero Triton"), which finished 7^th stage in 37th position. Penalties for not finished crews have still not yet been officially announced.

Because of the bad weather conditions, Dakar 6th stage was canceled. Despite the unscheduled free day, drivers waited far more seriuous challenge  in Chili coalmine town in Copiapo area. In Dakara 7th stage drivers needed to accomplish 573 kilometres, where most of the distance – 419 km was a rally stage. In the tuff and long racing track only 46 cars and 23 trucks managed to get on time in all time limits. Bikes were starting their 7th stage earlyer than the cars and trucks – so the approaching night darkness didn’t reach riders.

In the 7th stage first two places took "Hummer H3" cars. The winner was qatarian Nasser Saleh Al-Atijah with 7min ahead for american Bob Gordon, but still 23 seconds lost the race leader Stefan Peteransels ("All 4 Racing Mini”).

"RE Autoclub" driver Melnikov the 7^th stage finished in less than three hours after the winner. Neither Latvian second crew - Ilja Kuznetsov / Roman Elagin ("Mitsubishi Pajero Triton MPR 107"), nor the "Team Latvia" both duets with "Oscar" managed to reach the seventh stage finish.

Overall, where are included only 43 drivers, the first place takes Peteransels with 11 minutes ahead of Polish sportsmen Krzysztof Holowczyc ("Mini All4 Racing"). The third position takes Gordon. Melnikov currently is in 28th position.