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Sebastien Loeb's co-driver slams Dakar Rally roadbook 'stupidity'

Sebastien Loeb's long-time co-driver Daniel Elena says he is so incensed by the inaccurate roadbook on the 2019 Dakar Rally he would be prepared to quit the event.

Nine-time World Rally Championship-winning duo Loeb and Elena lie fourth overall at the Dakar's halfway point, 40 minutes down on Toyota man Nasser Al-Attiyah with five stages still to run.

Loeb and Elena dominated the longest test of the rally on Friday in their PH Sport-run Peugeot 3008DKR, but lost considerable time on Wednesday getting lost and then on Thursday with punctures.

Elena was very critical of rally organiser ASO regarding the roadbook.

"We are happy with the pace, but not with the roadbook," said Elena. "We won [stage five], [on stage four] the pace was similar, but we punctured three wheels and finished the last 20km on the canvas.

"In the roadbook of stage three, for me, there was a big problem where many of us got lost.

"The organisation says that the roadbook is perfect... that's nonsense. Everyone, motorcycles, cars, we've all had the same problem at the same point. I want them to recognise that it's their problem.

"I'm not happy now just because we won [the stage] on Friday. Still on Friday there was some stupidity in the roadbook. There was a CAP [course] that put you in a ravine in the fog."

Elena fears he and Loeb will arrive unprepared for the WRC's Monte Carlo Rally, the start of their new part-time Hyundai deal, if they see out the Dakar.

"Sebastien understands my anger, but for the sponsors, for the team, he wants to continue," added Elena.

"If I could decide for both of us, we would take the plane and we would train for the Monte Carlo Rally and rest. If we continue here, we will arrive at Monte Carlo completely burned out."

Elena also demanded that the ASO return the lost time from stage three, but this has been refused.

Xavi Colome, the man in charge of the 2019 Dakar roadbook, explained that the problem arose from an electrical tower whose position on the route had been marked incorrectly.

But he said those that did not use the tower as a reference point did not experience any problems.

"The truth is that we have received criticism from the roadbook, especially from stage three, where Loeb and Elena and other participants were lost," said Colome.

"At that particular point, it's true that there was an inaccuracy. Specifically at km 177, there is a very obvious electrical tower that is a very good reference that many competitors use.

"This electrical tower was not at this point, but it was at the previous one, km 175. This was what caused the confusion.

"The analysis has been done by the stewards and they have decided that this inaccuracy is the same for all the drivers, so times will not be returned.

"Those who did not take the tower as a reference followed the path without problems."

Zdroj: autosport.com