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Reigning Dakar winner Nani Roma's start to the 2015 race turned into a disaster.
His MINI broke down just ten kilometres into the opening competitive section and had to wait for his assistance truck to arrive and make repairs. His car broke down yet again further along the stage, having to be towed home by his support team.
In all, Roma lost some 7 hours and 25 minutes to the leaders and sits a distant last at the bottom of the leaderboard, ending his hopes for a third Dakar crown.
Meanwhile, his teammates Nasser Al-Attiyah and Orlando Terranova cruised to a one-two finish over a minute ahead of the rest of the field.
However, Al-Attiyah was given a two-minute penalty to speeding.
That handed the event lead to Terranova, with American driver Robby Gordon elevated to second overall and South Africa's Giniel de Villiers third in his Toyota, while under a minute separated the first five cars.
Peugeot managed a pair of top ten stage finishes, former World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz the best of their fleet of 2008 DKR buggies with eighth place.
RESULTS - Stage 1, 2015 Dakar Rally
1. Orlando Terranova (ARG) MINI 1h13m12s
2. Robby Gordon (USA) Gordini +42s
3. Giniel De Villiers (RSA) Toyota +50s
4. Krzysztof Holowczyc (POL) MINI +54s
5. Emiliano Spataro (AUG) Renault +56s
His MINI broke down just ten kilometres into the opening competitive section and had to wait for his assistance truck to arrive and make repairs. His car broke down yet again further along the stage, having to be towed home by his support team.
In all, Roma lost some 7 hours and 25 minutes to the leaders and sits a distant last at the bottom of the leaderboard, ending his hopes for a third Dakar crown.
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| Nani Roma's MINI at the first stage. (Photo: Dakar.com) |
Meanwhile, his teammates Nasser Al-Attiyah and Orlando Terranova cruised to a one-two finish over a minute ahead of the rest of the field.
However, Al-Attiyah was given a two-minute penalty to speeding.
That handed the event lead to Terranova, with American driver Robby Gordon elevated to second overall and South Africa's Giniel de Villiers third in his Toyota, while under a minute separated the first five cars.
Peugeot managed a pair of top ten stage finishes, former World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz the best of their fleet of 2008 DKR buggies with eighth place.
RESULTS - Stage 1, 2015 Dakar Rally
1. Orlando Terranova (ARG) MINI 1h13m12s
2. Robby Gordon (USA) Gordini +42s
3. Giniel De Villiers (RSA) Toyota +50s
4. Krzysztof Holowczyc (POL) MINI +54s
5. Emiliano Spataro (AUG) Renault +56s