Saturday 28 January 2012

Penultimate Day- Namibia

Wow - what a couple of days. Yesterday, was a mammoth day of gravel driving in the Namibian desert where 4 lane highway wide gravel roads criss-cross vast areas of desert and farmland. Today, more of the same split by passing into South Africa for 2 fabulous competitive sections encompassing fast open sections with very tight and twisty parts including a downhill slalom run overlooking long drops and with failing overheating brakes!

After 2 full days of chasing Andy Actman in his Toyota (who has fought tooth and nail for every second), we finally caught him today after throwing our all at the last 2 twisty sections of day 28 or 29. We picked up 1 min 19 to lead by a wafer thin 3 seconds and with 3 more competitive sections to come in the morning both Andy and I will be going flat out in cars that, after 4 weeks of hard driving, are squeaking, groaning, knocking, rattling and rolling. Either of our cars could expire tomorrow (and neither of us would be particularly surprised) but both of us will be going for it in what is the most exciting ever finish to a long distance marathon event. After 4 weeks of rallying over 14,000 km, the 2 leading cars are just 3 seconds apart going into the final day and both are going for the win. 

Andy is perfectly capable of taking back time when the conditions suit and the vital first section favours his car; a rough surface hill climb where mid-range grunt and good suspension travel come into their own. We are going to have to peddle very hard to hold him off as we can't match his engine power or ability to climb uphill over rough surfaces. 

One way or another, we'll be in Cape Town tomorrow afternoon and win or lose, we'll have given it our best shot on what has been a fabulous event. 

More to follow when I have more time to catch up with the last 2 days of highs and lows and give more considered reflections on events and what I might have done diff

5 comments:

  1. Fingers (and everything crossed). In the meantime I'm off to IKEA.

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  2. We are all behind you (like the rest of the field...) go Blunt Duck, Go.

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  3. Just heard that you won. Well done to both of you, I bet that Champagne is going to taste sweet. You deserve it.

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  4. Congratulations Steve and Bob! Just seen the final results, well done! Emma P x

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  5. Well done to you both .. its been an exciting 29 days for us just keeping track of you cannot imagine what an adventure its been for you! Congratulations Xxxx

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