Turbo problems cause team’s setback in Stage 2 of Dakar 2014

FOLLOWING the celebrations of a surprise Stage 1 win, the Dakar Rally once again proved what a cruel mistress she can be when Carlos Sousa’s lead GWM/Haval H8 suffered turbo problems 33km into the arduous Stage 2, which took competitors from San Luis to San Rafael.

Haval is the premium SUV division of GWM.

Pengcheng Su, the team manager said: “What a pity for Carlos. When we got the news that the turbo had stopped working, we asked him to wait for the T4 assistance vehicle in order to avoid deeper engine damages”.

Sadly, having lost many hours due to this problem, Sousa is unlikely to be able to stage a comeback into the top 10.

The team’s hopes for a top five placing now rest on the shoulders of its new recruit, Frenchman, Christian Lavieille.

The GWM/Haval team aims to improve on the two sixth places achieved by Sousa in 2012 and 2013.

Following a top 10 finish in Stage 1 and driving the number 315 car, Lavieille continued with his solid performance thus far, finishing the stage in eighth place and moving up to seventh place overall. He is therefore well-placed to achieve the team’s goals. “Christian Lavieille’s race is good, we hope he can continue like that,” said Su.