2016 Dakar Rally News: Toyota Gazoo, Overdrive Racing Complete Top 10
As the 2016 Dakar Rally reaches its midpoint, the Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa crew and Overdrive Racing outfit completed the top 10 list as the horde of racers close in on the South American city of Salta in Argentina. The two racing teams have also performed exceptionally well within the first week of rally and have four cars comfortably sitting on the top 10 list.
After seven days of high octane and life risking rally feats, Dakar Rally racers have finally reached Salta, Argentina.
After reaching Salta, Peugeot DKR holds the top three positions.
According to Times Live, at pole position is Sebastian Loeb and Daniel Elena on their 2008 Peugeot DKR. Second on the ranks is Stephane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret and closely following them are Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz.
Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz of the Toyota Gazoo South Africa crew is in the sixth position of the 2016 Dakar Rally followed by Leeroy Poulter and Robert Howie in the seventh place driving under the same banner. The third Toyota Gazoo pair to enter the top 10 list is Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottchalk who are currently in the eighth place.
The sole Overdrive Racing crew to enter the top 10 is the duo of Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov.
In an interview with Motor Sport, Overdrive Racing chief executive officer Jean-Mac Fortic said, "The rest day in Salta is a chance for us to rebuild and repair the Toyotas and for the drivers to take a day of rest."
"We had eight Hiluxes at the start in Buenos Aires and we have seven of them still running in Salta, despite the unfortunate retirement of Bernhard Ten Brinke."
Dutch 2016 Dakar Rally participant Ten Brinke made an impressive start during the rally's new Prologue stage.
However, with just 15 kilometers away from the finish line of the Uyuni stage, Ten Brinke's car suffered a punctured tire which forced him to bow out of the competition.
