“The organisers informed us on Sunday that stage nine would be cancelled. The Tupiza bivouac was completely under water and they did not let us in at all and there is a completely flooded bridge on the way to Salta, we were told. When the boys arrived we decided to take an alternative route and set off for Argentina right away,“ was Robin Dolejš´s report on the situation.
The TATRA Buggyra Racing team was one of the first to start for Argentina after learning about the cancelled stage. “Around seven in the morning the complete team arrived in the bivouac in Salta, Argentina. Clearly as one of the first, for no one wanted to drive overnight and so the bivouac only began to be occupied later,” commented the team manager Jan Kalivoda on the team´s arrival. “As we obtained another “free day” thanks to the cancelled stage, the mechanics are preparing the trucks for the final part of the Dakar Rally. After the technical issues in the previous stages there is a lot to repair and so the free day equals to a work day. Luckily Salta is sunlit and the temperatures range around 30 degrees Centigrade, which is much more pleasant than temperatures around zero and mud,” says Kalivoda, who is satisfied with the background in Salta. “This bivouac is always one of the best at Dakar. There is hot water here, normal showers and a classical WC, so everybody can enjoy profound hygiene,“ he added.
