Dakar: Baumgart and Andreotti remain in the top 15, but X Rally suffers casualty

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After the third breakdown, Marcos Baumgart and Kleber Cincea decided to abandon the race and return to Brazil on Monday (15).

The Brazilian X Rally team had a day of mixed feelings on Sunday (14), the day of the seventh stage of the Dakar 2024, opening the second half of the race, which ends next Friday, January 19. While Cristian Baumgart and Beco Andreotti continue to climb in the general classification of the race among the cars, the team suffered a loss with the definitive abandonment of Marcos Baumgart and Kleber Cincea.

This Sunday's stage saw the competitors cover a total of 873 kilometers - 458 against the clock - between the capital Riyadh and Al Dawadimi. With the Prodrive Hunter, Cristian Baumgart and Beco Andreotti closed the stage with the 17th best time.

"Today everything went well, we started on the right and at km 5 we caught two cars lost and got into their dust; then it was a brake-accelerate-brake until one of the two got a flat tire, I think at km 30 or 40, then we came good, everything went well. Always saving the car on the rocks and everything went well. With about 30 kilometers to go, we missed a reference and got lost for a brief moment, we came back, and everything was fine on our side; I only regret the departure of Marcos and Kleber, who had been doing a great job in this Dakar," recalled navigator Beco Andreotti.

Cristian Baumgart regretted his brother's problems in the race and his consequent abandonment. "The departure of Marcos and Kleber is a hard blow for us - not just because we have one less car in the race, but also because of everything they contribute. We work together on analyzing sections, driving, navigation, everything. It's going to be bad not having them with us for this second half of the Dakar, but we're going to take them with us in the car in our thoughts," he lamented.

For Marcos and Kleber, the Dakar definitely ended at km 45 of today's section. "It was the third time we've had problems: first with the gearbox, then with the engine, which was changed on the rest day, and today with the engine again. Apart from the fact that we can't start after a third forfait (when the vehicle doesn't complete the stage), there isn't enough time to change another engine," Kleber Cincea lamented. "In addition, the causes of these breakdowns must be analyzed at the factory with technical work, time and structure that are not available at the Dakar," he explained.

"It was great to measure our strengths on what is a top-class grid. We showed that our car and our pace were in the top 15, top ten - sometimes even in the top five. Although we didn't achieve our goal of finishing the race, Marcos and I evolved a lot as navigators, drivers and as a duo. It was a great experience and I'm coming home stronger and very grateful for all the fans and support from the team," said Cincea.

Marcos Baumgart also regretted his premature exit from the race. "We started very well, and then the problems started. We had very good stages, a very good pace, but unfortunately what we wanted didn't come. We took a lot of knocks in this Dakar, but that's what learning is all about - taking knocks in order to grow. We leave the race with our heads held high, leaving a bit of us here cheering for Cristian and Beco, as well as all our team who are here doing a great job," he concluded.

This Monday (15), the eighth stage of the Dakar takes place. There will be 678 kilometers between Al Dawadimi and Hail, with 458 timed sections.

The X Rally Team is sponsored by Vedacit, Motul, BF Goodrich, Rodobens, Center Norte, Rock and Opaoma.

Automatic translation of the Portuguese version available on www.todoterreno.pt
Source: X-Rally Team

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