Baja 1000 Results 2018: Race Winners, Video Highlights and More
Nov 18, 2018
US´ Scott Myers steers his Trophy Truck during the 2008 Tecate Score Baja 1000 off-road race in the outskirts of Ensenada, Mexico, Friday, Nov. 21, 2008.(AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)
After finishing second in last year's race, Cameron Steele was named the official winner of the 2018 Baja 1000 on Sunday.
Steele, who qualified in 13th, was second to cross the line in the Trophy Truck category behind four-time Baja 1000 winner Rob MacCachren but claimed the crown after MacCachren was hit by time penalties for speeding and an unsafe, illegal pass on a highway.
Steele was initially named as the unofficial winner of the race while his rival appealed the sanctions, but upon review, Score International upheld them to give Steele his first Baja 1000 victory in what was the 51st edition of the prestigious race.
Steele was also hit with a penalty for speeding of three minutes, 27 seconds, but he still finished ahead of Andy McMillin and MacCachren with a final time of 16:24:02, per Score International's official website.
Race spring manufacturer Eibach congratulated him and his team:
At the halfway point, Larry Connor's team held the lead ahead of MacCachren. The vehicles of Bryce Menzies, McMillin and Robby Gordon separated the latter from Steele, who was sixth at the time.
A broken spindle in the final 100 miles put paid to Connor's hopes, however, while Menzies and McMillin also encountered some issues that paved the way for MacCachren and Steele to cross the line in first and second, respectively.
Steele, who was inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in July, only earned his first overall victory in September, when he won the Tijuana Score Desert Challenge.
Meanwhile, Alexander Rossi—who won the Indy 500 in 2016—secured a podium finish in the Class 7 category.
Racing driver Tim Coronel shared a near-miss the American had with an oncoming SUV during the race:
The incident took place just 33 miles in near Ojos Negros.
The 807-mile race, which started and ended in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, was entered by 296 vehicles driven by teams from 41 U.S. states and 18 countries.
This Paralyzed Race Car Driver Is Tearing It Up on the Tracks
Aug 14, 2018
BR Video
The world's only quadriplegic female race car driver is tearing up the track. Nathalie McGloin was paralyzed from the chest down in a car accident at the age of 16. In 2015, she became the first woman with a spinal injury to receive a racing license in the UK.
McGloin drives a Porsche with customized controls that let her brake and accelerate with only her hands. The 35-year-old has multiple Top 10 Porsche Club Championship finishes and hopes to compete in wheelchair events at the Paralympics at Tokyo 2020. Off the track, McGloin focuses on her charity, Spinal Track, which introduces drivers with disabilities to competitive racing.
For more on Nathalie, watch the video above or check out her website.
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Baja 1000 Results 2017: Race Winners, Video Highlights and More
Nov 19, 2017
US´ Scott Myers steers his Trophy Truck during the 2008 Tecate Score Baja 1000 off-road race in the outskirts of Ensenada, Mexico, Friday, Nov. 21, 2008.(AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)
Carlos Lopez came out on top in the 50th Baja 1000 race, which featured 405 drivers in the 1,134.40-mile event that started in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, and ended in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
After finishing as the runner-up to Rob MacCachren last year, Lopez finally had his breakthrough moment in one of the world's most prestigious off-road races. MacCachren had won this event each of the last three years.
Full results are still being tabulated on the Score International Off-Road Racingwebsite, but Lopez was the biggest winner and Francisco Arredondo's team won the five-man motorcycle competition.
With MacCachren and B.J. Baldwin out of commission, Lopez, literally and figuratively, put the pedal to the metal to take the victory in just under 20 hours.
Arredondo's victory was not without controversy because of a potentially faulty GPS involving the motorcycle team led by Mark Samuels that appeared to finish first, per AutoWeek.com:
"But the apparent winners were penalized after what looked like a glitch on the GPS software that showed straight lines where the course curved over the terrain. Some of the straight lines appeared to go over the water. So something was wrong, seemingly with the GPS units. The Ox Motorpsorts team was assessed a 30-minute penalty, which moved it from first place to second."
In a statement about the situation, off-road sanctioning body Score International said the penalty was because of a "reckless incident at the finish line ramp" by Samuels' team:
After Samuels' squad was assessed the penalty, Arredondo and his team jumped into the top spot for motorcycle teams with a time of 21:26.47.
MacCachren's race came to a premature end on Friday when the engine in his truck blew, ensuring there would be a new champion for the first time since 2013.
Considering the rigors of competing in an event like the Baja 1000, which requires endurance and stamina from both the driver and vehicle, MacCachren's success over the past three years is an achievement that won't be overshadowed by this year's finish.
A similar fate befell Baldwin, a two-time champion in 2012-13, whose transmission and computer issues caused him to drop out on the course.
Despite that shortcoming, Baldwin did take it in stride with an Instagram message to his family with other detailed information about what happened to his trophy truck:
Lopez has been patiently waiting and working for his chance to claim victory in this race. He didn't get out ahead of the pack early and cruise to a win. Instead, his ability to sit back and let things play out worked to his advantage in 2017.
Sometimes, the best vehicle to have is the most durable one instead of just the fastest one. Lopez outlasted the competition, particularly when MacCachren and Baldwin went down, to take his place in the Baja 1000 spotlight.
Dakar Rally 2017: Results, Reaction and Updated Route Schedule After Friday
Jan 13, 2017
UNSPECIFIED, ARGENTINA - JANUARY 13: Sam Sunderland of Great Britain and KTM rides a 450 Rally Replica KTM bike in the Elite ASO during stage eleven of the 2017 Dakar Rally between San Juan and Rio Cuarto on January 13, 2017 at an unspecified location in Argentina. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Sebastien Loeb and Paulo Goncalves gained ground in the overall standings of the 2017 Dakar Rally on Friday, but with just one stage left, both need a minor miracle on the road to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to complete a comeback.
Loeb chases Peugeot team-mate Stephane Peterhansel by more than five minutes in the car category, while Sam Sunderland has an enormous lead in the bike division.
Here's a look at the results from Friday's stage, courtesy of Dakar's official Twitter account:
The 2017 Dakar Rally will finish with one final stage, taking every competitor to the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires. Friday's drive will be 786 km long, starting in Rio Cuarto. For the exact route, visit the event's official website by clicking here.
The battle in the bike category was expected to go down to the wire, but with just one stage left in this year's rally, the winner already seems set in stone.
UNSPECIFIED, ARGENTINA - JANUARY 13: Sam Sunderland of Great Britain and KTM rides a 450 Rally Replica KTM bike in the Elite ASO during stage eleven of the 2017 Dakar Rally between San Juan and Rio Cuarto on January 13, 2017 at an unspecified location in
Sunderland finished more than seven minutes behind Goncalves, Friday's winner, but he limited the damage over the top contenders in the overall classification and will start the final stage with a lead of more than 30 minutes on the rest of the pack.
Matthias Walkner sits in second place, but his pace has been off the last few days, and he doesn't seem much of a threat at this point. Consistency has been an issue for the impressive Joan Barreda, and he too no longer seems to be in a position to threaten Sunderland.
In the car category, Peugeot once again took top honours on Friday, as Loeb beat team-mate Peterhansel by just 18 seconds. As Dakar's official Twitter account shared, that leaves the former rally star with a mountain to climb:
Loeb had the better pace on Friday, but Peterhansel showed his experience by following the Frenchman's tracks, almost casually making his way to the final line. The 51-year-old has been racing the rally since 1988, both on motorbikes and in cars, and no one understands the unique nature of all-terrain endurance racing like he does.
Peugeot's French driver Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena from Monaco compete during Stage 11 of the 2017 Dakar Rally between San Juan and Rio Cuarto, in Argentina, on January 13, 2017. / AFP / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK F
The race is far from over, however. A single mechanical issue could doom Peterhansel's chances on Saturday, even if the worst of the terrain is now in the rearview mirror.
In the quad division, Russia's Sergey Karyakin pushed his advantage to over 76 minutes with yet another dominant showing, finishing more than 20 minutes faster than any of his rivals. At this point, Karyakin could likely head for Buenos Aires blindfolded and still win the race.
Dakar Rally 2017: Results, Reaction and Updated Route Schedule After Tuesday
Jan 10, 2017
UNSPECIFIED, BOLIVIA - JANUARY 09: Joan Barreda Bort of Spain and HRC Honda rides a CRF450Rally Honda bike in the Elite ASO during stage seven of the 2017 Dakar Rally between La Paz and Uyuni on January 9, 2017 at an unspecified location in Bolivia. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Joan Barreda won his second stage of the 2017 Dakar Rally on Tuesday, becoming the first man to win more than one motorbike stage during this year's edition.
Sebastien Loeb hit back at team-mate Stephane Peterhansel, who took Monday's stage, by putting together a dominant outing on his way to a third stage win and the lead in the car standings.
Here's a look at Tuesday's results from every group:
As Dakar's official Twitter account shared, the dreadful weather conditions of the past few days meant Tuesday's stage became the latest to suffer a few changes:
With just four stages left, competitors are quickly running out of room to make up time―see below for details. For full route information, visit Dakar's official website:
Stage
Date
Bike/Quad Distance (KM)
Car/UTV Distance (KM)
Truck Distance (KM)
9
Wednesday, Jan. 11
977
977
977
10
Thursday, Jan. 12
751
751
751
11
Friday, Jan. 13
759
759
759
12
Saturday, Jan. 14
786
786
786
Sam Sunderland entered the day with a healthy lead in the motorbike category, but he and his colleagues were powerless to stop Barreda from grabbing his second stage win. The Spaniard led from start to finish, making up almost four minutes on Sunderland.
With the queen stage on the horizon and four days of racing left, Barreda needed to grab some momentum, and he delivered on Tuesday. His rival said Tuesday was a big day for the race:
Sunderland still has a massive lead, however, and the rest of the field has to hope for major mechanical issues during the queen stage, or the British racer will cruise to the win.
Peugeot continued their run of dominance in the cars division, as Loeb grabbed his third win of this year's Dakar race and the lead in the standings. The Frenchman led for most of the day, and Peterhansel had to rally to reduce the deficit in the final sector.
UNSPECIFIED, BOLIVIA - JANUARY 09: Sebastien Loeb of France and Peugeot Total drives with co-driver Daniel Elena of Monaco in the 3008 DKR Peugeot car in the Classe : T1.4 2 Roues Motrices, Diesel during stage seven of the 2017 Dakar Rally between La Paz
Loeb now leads his team-mate by 98 seconds heading into the queen stage. Peugeot take up the first three spots in the general classification, with Mikko Hirvonen and his Mini lagging more than 53 minutes behind the leader.
Sergey Karyakin finished almost six minutes behind stage leader Ignacio Casale, and with Axel Dutrie right on the Russian's heels, the quad category could be in for a major shake-up on Wednesday.
Dakar Rally 2017: Results, Reaction and Updated Route Schedule After Monday
Jan 9, 2017
Peugeot's driver Stephane Peterhansel and his co-driver Jean Paul Cottret of France compete during the Stage 7 of the Dakar 2017 between La Paz and Uyuni, Bolivia, on January 9, 2017. / AFP / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
French veteran Stephane Peterhansel won the seventh stage in the car category of the 2017 Dakar Rally to extend his lead at the head of the general classification on Monday.
Following two days of inaction—one caused by Saturday's cancellation of the sixth stage due to bad weather—Peterhansel claimed a second stage win of this year's race over the reduced 161-kilometre route from La Paz to Uyuni, Bolivia.
The defending champion's lead at the top of the standings is now at one minute, 57 seconds over compatriot and Peugeot team-mate Sebastien Loeb, whom he edged out in the stage by 48 seconds, per the Dakar Rally:
In the bike category, the Unites States' Ricky Brabec became the sixth different stage winner of the 2017 race as he beat out Portugal's Paulo Goncalves and Great Britain's Sam Sunderland:
KTM's Sunderland now holds a lead of more than 17 minutes at the top of the general classification, per Dakar.com.
There are now just five stages remaining in the 2017 race—see below for details and, for full route information, visit the competition's official website:
Stage
Date
Bike/Quad Distance (KM)
Car/UTV Distance (KM)
Truck Distance (KM)
8
Tuesday, Jan. 10
892
892
892
9
Wednesday, Jan. 11
977
977
977
10
Thursday, Jan. 12
751
751
751
11
Friday, Jan. 13
759
759
759
12
Saturday, Jan. 14
786
786
786
Bad weather has dogged the Dakar Rally in Bolivia this year, and it played a part again in Monday's action as the route was shortened significantly from 320 km to 161 km due to further downpours:
The race's Twitter feed explained the situation:
ICYMI: There's a new course for Stage 7. / En caso de que usted lo perdiera, hay un nuevo recorrido para la etapa 7. #Dakar2017pic.twitter.com/SOjsvp9Tbx
Peterhansel was on track early on for the stage win and led Loeb by more than a minute at the halfway point on Monday.
However, Loeb, 42, did well to cut the gap down by the chequered flag.
Toyota's Nani Roma in third and Peugeot's Cyril Despres in fourth are over 10 minutes off the lead after the stage-seven action, but they will hope to make a dent in the lead during Tuesday's run to Salta, Argentina.
Baja 1000 2013: Complete Guide to Friday's Cars and Trucks Race
Nov 15, 2013
The 2013 SCORE Baja 1000 features the biggest and best in desert racing, and some changes in this year's event make the spectacle a must-see event for any fan of speed and danger.
The pro motorcycles and ATVs took off on Thursday night as the race was separated between the two classes. This year marks the first time in the event's illustrious history that one portion of the race began at night.
With a more even playing field set for the cars and trucks, passions will be at an all-time high on Friday as the best compete for the prized championship.
Keep reading for more information on the Baja 1000.
Baja 1000—Cars and Trucks
When: Friday, Nov. 15
Start Time: 9 a.m. PST/12 p.m. ET
Start Location: Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Length: Approximately 900 miles
Guide to 2013 Baja 1000
SCORE changed many aspects of the Baja 1000 heading into this year's race, and it's garnered plenty of talk across the off-road racing world.
The most obvious and glaring change is in splitting up the two classes, asking a heap of drivers to begin racing in the dark and posing all sorts of danger problems. Ironically enough, the decision to start one race at night was made with safety at the forefront.
According to a report from Bill Center of UT San Diego, the new course will assert its place in the record books. The course spans 883 miles. That's the longest course in the history of off-road racing.
Just as well, a set of qualification events were set up for this year, increasing the two-day event to all of five days.
Behind all of the changes is Roger Norman, who purchased SCORE last year. The 2008 Baja 1000 champion saw a blueprint for giving the people what they desired.
According to Center's report, off-road truck racer Rob MacCachren gave Norman and his efforts a shining endorsement:
I think Roger has a lot of great ideas about the Baja 1000 and where he wants to take SCORE as a series. Drivers wanted different courses, different routes. Roger delivered. We’re seeing areas in this Baja 1000 that we’ve never seen before. This is the toughest loop race I’ve ever seen. Some drivers think it is too tough.
But it is supposed to be hard. This is the Baja 1000.
After an entire year devoted toward making the Baja 1000 better than ever, Norman and SCORE's efforts will unfold on the near 900-mile course on Friday.
All of these changes will only add to a race that has gained notoriety for its loose play and unpredictability.
Typically dangerous, noticeably controversial but always exciting, this year's Baja 1000 is shaping up to be quite the spectacle.
Indy MotoGP 2013: Marc Marquez in Line for 3rd Consecutive Triumph
Aug 18, 2013
While he might be just 20 years of age, Marc Marquez has already taken the Moto GP world by storm in his first year of competition, smashing barriers, records and expanding his horizons along the way.
That being said, the youngster’s prolific form is only set for bigger and better things, the next opportunity for which comes this weekend in Indianapolis.
At the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix in Monterey, Calif. last month, Marquez claimed his third win of the season, extending his lead over Dani Pedrosa to 16 points in the process. As a result of the feat, Marquez also became the youngest-ever rider to ever win consecutive races in the top tier of GP racing, a record previously held by Freddie Spencer.
However, with BBC Sport reporting via Twitter that the Spaniard also finished practice the fastest in Indianapolis, the starlet is quite possibly set to etch his name even further into the history books:
Barely out of his teenage years, Marquez’s achievements so early in his career are already remarkable. Having finished on the podium in 14 of his last 17 races in the Moto2 class, big things were always expected from the Honda representative, but perhaps not as big as this.
Finishing second to Marquez in the Indy practicing was England’s Carl Crutchlow. The Yamaha rider was just three-tenths of a second behind Marquez’s impressive time of one minute and 40.781 seconds.
Earlier this month, the BBC’s Ben Parrish painted Spain’s grid leader as the emerging favourite to now go ahead and win the 2013 title, even though those involved are only halfway through their campaign.
However, one massive factor in that will be the youngster’s fitness, which he has so far managed to maintain while, as Parrish points out, Pedrosa's has not.
At this stage of his career, Marquez can be both susceptible to injury and the least likely to pick up something debilitating, relying largely on the vast hunger that’s undoubtedly in his belly.
Other than Pedrosa and fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi would’ve also been a rider many would have considered as a candidate for silverware come season’s end.
However, with another victory on Sunday, young Marquez will assuredly be in the driver’s seat (no pun intended) to claim top spot come November—and given his current trajectory, there’s no reason why Honda’s newest disciple can’t do just that.
Le Mans 2013: Tom Kristensen Cements Legacy with Ninth Victory at Event
Jun 23, 2013
Danish race car driver Tom Kristensen helped Audi win the 2013 "24 Hours of Le Mans" on Sunday, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest drivers in the sport's history.
Driving the No. 2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro, Kristensen shared the top step of the podium with teammates Allan McNish of Scotland and Loic Duval of France. It was McNish's third victory at Le Mans and a career-fulfilling first for Duval, but Kristensen, winning his record ninth running of the race, deserves the greatest recognition for that achievement.
The race, colloquially known as the grand prix of endurance and efficiency, is really just that: an event that tries a driver's mind just as much as his body. Winning takes not just technical proficiency but mental discipline, drivers needing to race fast at times, but also preserve enough speed to last 24 hours. One must find the perfect balance between speed and forethought if they hope to finish on top.
Driving in teams of three, racers, at times, have to manage that delicate balance for two-hour-long shifts, spending copious amounts of time on the track before being able to pit and call for a relief driver. If you thought the final immunity challenge on Survivor was a taxing feat of endurance, this event might be too daunting for you to even watch.
All of which only makes Kristensen more impressive. Granted, by definition, this race is a team contest; drivers race in triads, and three men share each spot on the podium. But out there on the track for hours at a time without pitting, it often feels like a solo affair. The race is closer to baseball, a group of individuals competing for one team goal, than basketball, where teammates work together in unison to achieve success.
In winning the 2013 race on Sunday, Kristensen further burrowed his way into Le Mans immortality, capturing the checkered flag for the ninth time in his career. He didn't break the record with this victory—that happened in 2005, where he won his seventh race, passing German Jacky Ickx for the all-time lead—but he further extended his lead in that category, making it more and more likely that he will always reign atop the leaderboard at Le Mans.
Kristensen's victory is also of note because he hadn't won at Le Mans since 2008. He won his first 24-hour race in 1997 before sweeping six straight between 2000 and 2005. He didn't win again until 2008, and this was his first victory since. In other words, since his first victory at Le Mans 16 years ago, this ended the longest drought of his career.
It also gave Kristensen victories in three different decades. In an event that measures microcosmic endurance—that is, how long you can stay sharp over a 24-hour binge—achieving such macrocosmic longevity is just icing on the cake. It reveals the consistency of Kristensen's ability, proof that even over the long haul, he is worthy of the title Le Mans has granted him. He is truly the king of endurance.
According to The Telegraph, Kristensen's father passed away in March. Before he died, though, he predicted his son would end the four-year drought and win his ninth title at Le Mans.
With his and his teammates' remarkable driving this weekend, Kristensen made sure his father's last prediction came true.
Carlos Lopez came out on top in the 50th Baja 1000 race, which featured 405 drivers in the 1,134.40-mile event that started in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, and ended in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
