The Czech pair Ondřej Klymčiw and Petr Vlček (Klymčiw Racing) with a Škoda 130 LR finished the 43rd Dakar Rally 2021 in the Classic rating. In this category are cars that took part in the Dakar until the year 2000, or took part in the World Rally Championship in Group B.
Crews were not evaluated according to the time achieved, but they were to be classified according to regularity driving. They had itineraries, designated points on the track of each stage, which they had to reach at the specified time. Points were counted for early or late arrival. The fewer points, the better the result and ranking. “Originally, we thought we had to be on the right meter at a given point at a given point, but that’s not enough. It is also important to keep a constant average speed between individual points, for which we received a lot of penalty points. However, I have the impression that everyone here learned the rules as they marched, “said Klymčiw.
Dakar Director David Castera said: “Classic vehicles raced against the clock, not against it. These vehicles have shown us that they still have something to say and are in good condition to handle the Saudi deserts. “
The axles are fine
The crews of historical specials shared the same bivouac with all participants in the competition. Originally, they were not to go through the same demanding stages as other categories with regard to the technical and performance characteristics of cars, in order to avoid mechanical problems. However, for example, on the fourth day, a portion of 960 kilometers awaited them, which was a distance that even the latest current specials did not cover. “After thirteen hours of driving, I sat on the metal steps of the accompanying car, and I felt like I was sitting in a comfortable chair,” Klymchiw said.
In the first stage, the Czech crew wandered a bit, once just missed a running camel, with a weaker engine, they managed to overtake even a Mercedes Benz G-Class and, unfortunately, also fell into the sand. “This is really the right Dakar with everything,” Ondřej said after the third stage and continued: “With a Mitsubishi ATV, I would probably never jump where I sent the Škoda. We bent both arms of the rear axles, but the mechanics put everything together perfectly. Everything holds everything, “said Klymčiw after the third stage late at night in the background of the team.
Each day was divided into several sections for the Dakar Classic crews. On the fifth day, they divided into four sections. “We had two successful sections, one decent and unfortunately the fourth failed one deleted the previous good results. Unfortunately, there were no fields with time data in the itinerary, but unfortunately the organizers did not solve it. In addition, the display in the car is very small and difficult to read from it, “says navigator Petr Vlček.
The sixth stage became the most successful for the Klymčiv Racing crew so far. In the individual parts, they were fourth, sixth and first, and overall, the win was in the stage. In the standings, the Czechs moved up to fifth place in the competition of 24 crews. “After the rains, there was a lot of hardened sand on the track. I tried to drive carefully, even though I swept one hole quite roughly in one place, “said Klymčiw, adding:” The checkpoints were chopped by two or three hundred meters. I have it over my head, but we won and we will continue to fight, “commented Ondřej Klymčiw, who was obviously tired.
When the problems came
After a day of rest, the Czechs continued to collect excellent placements and finished the seventh and eighth stages in third place. They held on to fifth position in the standings. The first serious problem appeared in the ninth stage, when the transmission stopped working. The mechanics took care of the work and the crew collected tens of thousands of penalty points for the unfinished stage. They dropped to fifteenth place in the classification.
Unfortunately, the problem continued. In the tenth stage, the engine began to overheat and it was not possible to repair it on the spot. “I am seriously concerned that it is a seal under my head. I wondered for a while if we would wrap it up and wait for next year. But at that moment, I realized that we had almost two stages and they were counting for us. So the mechanics fix the engine and move on. Our cameraman asked me if it was a bad day. When I think of my two big accidents and injuries on a motorcycle in the Dakar 2016 and 2018, I say that it is definitely not a bad day, “he said on the Klymčiw track.
She entered the eleventh stage with a new engine. “Five kilometers before the finish of the first section, we found out that we had a defect in the left rear, but we reached it on the rim. Even two seconds earlier, so it was a penalty point, “Klymčiw explained. However, on the crossing to the next stage, the right rear wheel fell. Both Czechs fixed the defect, but another complication arose. “In a classic competition, when you reach the limit, you get a big penalty. In our category, an hour and a half is enough and nothing from the day counts. And that means a lot of other penalty points, “Klymčiw explained.
Pleasure in the finish
On the last day, the crew in the Škoda 130 LR came out and recorded third place, which they did for the fourth time in the competition. On the finish ramp, Ondřej and Petr danced their dance to celebrate success. “It simply came to our notice then. Peter and I said to each other that we would take a day off, turn it around and go back in the opposite direction. It was an exhausting fortnight for us, the mechanics, the fans and our families. Thank you very much for doing it, “said Ondřej and Petr added:” The last day was really great, lots of sand and wonderful dunes. I really enjoyed those fourteen days. There was a great group – Honza, Tomáš, Mašek and David. They were all great hard workers and Ondra is definitely not bored in the car. “
And how does the driver evaluate the premiere at the Dakar Rally? “I already have a long list of things that we need to improve in the car for next year. If we only went to reach, then there is no problem. However, we went to the result and unfortunately the material sometimes did not last. We managed to win one stage and they were third four times. It is clear that we have the result. Before the start, I promised everyone that I would bring the Škoda to the finish. And I kept my word, “concluded Ondřej Klymčiw.
Final Classic standings: 1. Douton, Etienne (Fr./Buggy Sunhill 1979) 961 points; 2. Donatiu, Serrat Puig 2650 points; 3. Harichoury, Fertin, Correia (Fr./Renault Trucks 420DCI) 5205 points; 4. Revuelta, Sanchez Hernandez (Sp. / Toyota Land Crusioer) 5838 points; 5. Verdaguer, Verdaguer (Fr./Buggy Sunhill 1982/1983) 8775 points; 6. Lacarrau, Quemin (Fr./Toyota Proto KDJ95) 9327; … 19. Klymčiw, Vlček (Czech Republic / Škoda 130 LR) 133,321 points. 23 crews out of 24 starters completed the competition.
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