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| Race2Recovery |
All 4 vehicles driven by Major Matt O'Hare and Corporal Phillip Gillespie, Team Captain Tony Harris and Cathy Derousseaux, U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Mark Zambon and Ben Gotts, and Tom Neathway and Justin Birchall succeeded in qualifying for the next leg although not without mechanical setbacks that were met, and overcome.
All four Race2Recovery vehicles successfully thundered through the second leg of the Dakar Rally Sunday – though it was far from an easy ride.
One of the cars, driven by Major Matt O'Hare and Corporal Phillip Gillespie, began overheating every 19 or so miles, severely delaying the pair as they paused each time to let their car cool.
O’Hare and Gillespie, both wounded UK servicemen, powered through and rolled into the Race2Recovery camp with just 40 minutes to spare before the official cut-off time.
"Matt did a brilliant job and she kept going,” said Gillespie. “The last few kilometres were incredible.”
Indeed, completing the 150-mile leg was no small feat for the two, who had to motor through some of toughest dunes of the 15-day race in the dark of night.
“I've never seen dunes like that and we were navigating through them in the dark,” Gillespie continued. “This is everything I thought the Dakar would be, and then some."
O’Hare and Gillespie weren’t the only ones who hit trouble in the South American desert.
Team Captain Tony Harris and Cathy Derousseaux struggled with a malfunctioning car early on in the day, putting them behind schedule and forcing them to miss several check-in points.
The rally’s organizers slapped Harris and Derousseaux with several time penalties, but still gave them a start number for Monday.
"The last forty-eight hours have been an emotional rollercoaster," said Harris. “We still have all four cars running and we're learning all the time.”
In comparison, U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Mark Zambon had a rather smooth ride. The double-amputee, however, has struggled to get used to the pair of new legs he brought along for the rally.
“These legs might not be quite as stable as my normal hydraulic pair, but they don't need to be recharged," he said. "They're a simpler solution but I have to learn to walk differently.”
The third leg of the Dakar Rally will take the Race2Recovery team, comprised mostly of U.S. and UK soldiers injured at war, and other competitors deep into southern Peru, from Pizco to Nazca.
Former world rally champion Carlos Sainz of Spain remains in the lead.
By Christine Roberts / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
