The two Fiat PanDAKARs have made it safely through their first day traversing the inhospitable North African terrain; and today the two tiny rally machines will press on into the desert and face another new challenge, they will hit the sand dunes for the first time as they tackle the marathon duration leg four.

The first competitive experience of the PanDAKARs in the desert, has been helped by the period testing that the Fiat factory team undertook prior to Christmas in Tunisia; and the Dakar Rally knowledge of the their two pilots, Miki Biasion and Bruno Saby. Biasion, a former double FIA World Rally Champion, has taking part in the African rally several times at the wheel of an Iveco truck, while Saby needs little introduction, having won the event outright in 1993. Together with the back up teams following in a Sedici 4x4 and an Iveco truck, the two PanDAKARs are well placed to succeed in their mission.

The competitors in the Dakar 2007 edition got to the heart of the matter yesterday after their arrival in Africa following the previous night’s crossing between Malaga and Nador. Taking advantage of his start in fifth position for today’s special stage, Marc Coma recorded the best time on a bike. The title-holder leads Chris Blais, who left in 79th position yesterday morning. Meanwhile Isidre Esteve sits at the top of the rally’s rankings whilst Cyril Despres lost more than 20 minutes after having broken his gear-box. In the car rally, the Volkswagens continued with their faultless performance at the front. After Sousa and Sainz in Portugal, Giniel De Villiers triumphed in the race to Er Rachidia. Carlos Sainz now leads the general rankings overal. In the truck race, Vladimir Chagin ran amok, winning his 42nd special stage and opening up a gap of more than 10 minutes on Gerard De Rooy. Further back the two PanDAKARs ran virtually together through the 648 km long third leg which started in Nador with a 205 km connection to the start of the 252 km timed test, and ended with a further 191 km connection into Er Rachidia.
 

"The distance was a hard one," explained Saby at the end of the day, "but the almost complete absence of  sand has allowed me to travel very close to Biasion, nearly always running together." Meanwhile, his Fiat team mate Biasion was also happy with progress, adding, "I have no complaints with the PanDAKAR."

Saby finished yesterday in 136th place in the car category, completing the 252 km stage in 4:36.44, which put him 1:50.32 behind the stage winner, Giniel De Villiers. Biasion meanwhile was 141st overall in a time of 4:40.43, and 1:54.31 off the best stage time. In the overall classification Saby (13:52.51) has moved ahead of Biasion (13:55.27), the two are now in 143rd and 144th place, 8:43.32 and 8:46.08, respectively behind the rally leader, Carlos Sainz (VW). There are 169 cars remaining in the rally.

Today's 679 km Moroccan fourth leg, the longest test thus far, will see the bikes, cars and trucks starting out from Er Rachidia this morning, and taking in a 96 km road connection before the 405 km timed stage gets underway. A 178 km final connection will take the survivors into the overnight stop at Ouarzazate. Today will be a first lesson in endurance for the two PanDAKARs. The second Moroccan special is a very long one, and above all very varied – just like the whole of the Dakar 2007 promises to be. For the novices, this is where the full-scale apprenticeship starts as they discover the dunes and experience their first rally thrills. This is also the moment to confront the multiple traps that lay in wait in Africa. The priority of the moment is don’t get carried away.