Gstaad Transafricans: Days 1-4, Paris-Morocco

 

So we've got some catching up do here on GstaadLife.com as we attempt to follow Gstaad Auto Club racers Stanislas de Sadeleer and Vincent Janssens from Paris to Dakar in the 2nd Transafricaine Rally. The good news is we are now emerging from our data-deprived existence of the past few days. So first up some news and photos sent by de Sadeleer from the European sectors of the race so far.

From the muds of the French military proving grounds in central France (above), to the forests of Château de Montplaisir near Narbonne (see video below), to the ferry port in Almeria Spain, the Gstaad Transafricans were in good shape lying in 8th place (out of 56 in their class). In telephone conversations with GstaadLife.com, de Sadeleer reported that the European sections were relatively painless, with the car running extremely well, and the pair were relaxed and able to conserve energy for the challenges ahead in Africa. Indeed so much additional bandwidth did they have, that Janssens was even able to offer up his mechanical skills to repair the transmission of fellow Land Rover rallyers, Charles Bourbon Parme and Charles La Haye Jousselin in car 113. The Gstaad Auto Club's not just a social thing, you know.

We'll have more from the early African stages by tomorrow. In the meantime...

• Click below to watch video highlights of the second stage in Narbonne, France.

• Click here for Stan's photo journal of the European stages.
• Click here to view and buy official race photos of de Sadeleer and Janssens
• Where are Stan and Vincent right now? Click here to track their car by satellite on a moving map (enter car 240 in the box #1).
• For the latest rankings, click here (they are lying in 15th at the time of writing)
• Want watch all this on TV? You can if you get Motors TV (which is part of Cablecom's digital cable package). They'll be a 12 minute round-up tonight (Thursday November 9) at 19h45 cet, and again next week Thursday November 16 at the same time. On Saturday December 2 there is a full one-hour broadcast featuring the rally from start to finish.

Team Gstaad Automobile Club is sponsored in part by ING Private Banking.

                

Thu. 01.11.2007 15:58. Stan and Vincent at the wheel at the start of Day 1.

Thu. 01.11.2007 20:43. The first race briefing.

Fri. 02.11.2007 10:27: arrival after the muddy special stage in Olivet.

Fri. 02.11.2007 11:16. the mudlands of Olivet were no match for our Gstaad Transafricans...

Fri. 02.11.2007 11:18. ...but someone has to wash the car. Vincent does the honors while Stan...well, takes photos...

Sat. 03.11.2007 10:15. Well, so much for all that washing. This is what the engine of Team Gstaad's Land Rover looked like the following day after the next stage in the dusts of Narbonne (see video above)!

sam. 03.11.2007 12:56. Lunch with fellow rallyers in Narbonne...

Sat. 03.11.2007 14:39. ...followed by more work for Vincent, repairing the the transmission of Charles Bourbon Parme and Charles La Haye Jousselin in car 113.

Sun. 04.11.2007 17:26. One of the big personalities in this year's race is Claude Marreau, winner of one of the first Paris-Dakar rallys. And yes that really is a Renault 4 he's driving...

Sun. 04.11.2007 17:31.

Sat. 04.11.2007 20:59. The Transafricaine peleton awaits the ferry from Almeria in Spain to Morocco.

dim. 04.11.2007 22:13. Bon voyage Stan and Vincent! Next stop, Africa...