ALDO Racing at the 2019 Dakar: The Quest is Over (01)

ALDO Racing Team



For Immediate Release


ALDO Racing at the 2019 Dakar:
The Quest Is Over


Montreal - January 15, 2019 - The 2019 Dakar 
quest of David Bensadoun and his co-driver 
Patrick Beaulé of the ALDO Racing Team, is over. 
The difficult terrain and multiple traps set for 
the 41st edition of the rally-raid were some of 
the most brutal ever seen. Adding to this was the 
fact that ALDO Racing was breaking in their new 
car, which was twice afflicted by mechanical 
woes. These afflictions are no fault of South 
African car manufacturer Century Racing, as the 
car spent too much time on the ocean blue 
travelling from South Africa to America, then a 
return trip from America to Asia for 
participation in the Silk Way Rally, that did not 
materialize. Finally, a trip to France before the 
last ocean cruise to Peru. The moist ocean air 
will have done most of the work to corrode the 
ignition distributor. The corrosion eventually 
caused the team's retirement on Day 3.


"Unfortunately, we had major electrical/fuelling 
problems starting at race kilometre 50 of Special 
Stage 3 and when we entered the dunes at 
kilometre 60, it just got worse," said David 
Bensadoun. "Engine power kept cutting out. We 
tore the car apart looking for the problem but 
could not immediately find the source".


30th in the car class prior to their retirement
Starting from Lima in 66th position in the car 
class, ALDO Racing lost six spots when they 
reached Pisco at the end of the first Special 
Stage. On day 2, the Canadian team made a giant 
leap, jumping to 38th position in class after 
checking in correctly at the eight Way Points on 
its way to San Juan de Marcona. After clocking in 
on Way Point 2 on Day 3, Bensadoun and Beaulé 
were 30th in class before encountering the 
problem that led to their retirement.


Because this Dakar is so tough on the cars, event 
organizers allowed participants who had retired 
from the rally in the first week, to re-enter the 
race after rest day on Saturday, January 12. Well 
rested, David and Patrick were back on the road 
on Sunday for a semi-marathon race with its own 
standings.


Dakar, Take 2
The ALDO Racing CR6 was back on the sandy trails 
of Peru to compete in the second half of the 
Dakar.


"We entered Special Sector 6 at 1 p.m. on Sunday 
and had a clutch failure in the Tanaka desert 
around 2 p.m.," continued Bensadoun. "With the 
help of our team, we removed the transmission and 
replaced the broken clutch pressure plate. We 
then had to navigate our way out of the desert in 
pitch black around 9:30 p.m.! Because of the 
crazy dunes and soft sand, it took us two hours 
to drive four kilometres in the dark before 
reaching a highway. Since we received help from 
our crew, we knew we would be excluded.


"We wanted adventure and we got it. It's always 
sad to be out but we have new stories to tell and 
we feel we tried everything to stay in. The Dakar 
is always tough, but this year's edition is just 
brutal."


The 2019 Dakar continues until Thursday, January 
17 when a festive crowd in the Capital City of 
Lima will acclaim the grand winners. Until then, 
fans can still follow the Dakar Rally live on 
https://gaps.dakar.com/2019/dakar/aso/ukie.


The participation of ALDO Racing in the Dakar 
2019 is the result of a partnership with the ALDO 
Group, E.F. Walters, Stingray, SAJO, Vitesse 
Transport Corporation, the OEC Group and 
Fesh-Fesh Investments.


- End -



Photo 1: ALDO Racing CR6 blowing up a sand storm
The ALDO Racing CR6 is blowing up a sand storm on 
the first day of the 2019 Dakar.
Photo Credit: Victore Leuter


Photo 2: Blocked by a big truck
The ALDO CR6 lost 40 minutes on Day 3, stopped in 
a sandy ravine when blocked by a truck. The truck 
was trying to tow a damaged rally car that had a 
Side-by-Side vehicle crashed on top of its roof! 
Look carefully behind the truck.
Photo Credit: ALDO Racing


Photo 3: Fixing the electrical problem on the CR6
Crewmembers are looking to fix the electrical 
problem on the CR6. It sits next the ALDO Racing 
Fuso support truck.
Photo Credit: ALDO Racing


Photo 4: The CR6 climbing up a dune on Sunday
The ALDO CR6 is running at full speed climbing a 
dune on its return to competition on Sunday,
Photo Credit: Vinicius Branca


Photo 5: Replacing the broken clutch pressure plate
Working in front of a reflective David Bensadoun, 
crewmembers had to remove the transmission and 
replace the broken clutch pressure plate on 
ALDO's CR6 on their last day of the Dakar.
Photo Credits: ALDO Racing



Source
Maxdo d'Orsonnens
514-246-8909
maxdo@videotron.ca


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