Robby Gordon Wins Final Stage Of 2015 Dakar Rally To Get 19th Overall

By  Andrew P. Collins

Racing legend Robby Gordon has had hard luck at the Dakar Rally; being plagued with problems and generally spending more time repairing than racing. But after a major mechanical setback in Stage 2, Gordon beat everybody on the last day and wound up in 19th overall.

It's no podium position, but everybody who knows off-road racing knows just finishing the Dakar is a hell of an accomplishment.

The 13th (and last) Special Stage of the 2015 Dakar Rally was meant to span 174 kilometers; but was cut down to a 34 kilometer sprint for the car category due to weather. Flat-out face-ripping sprints are what our boy Robby G does best, and he did America proud beating every other car in the field on the last day of the race.

Granted, the top runners wouldn't have been playing at peak performance with their positions already secured. But still: congratulations Robby!

Racer.com reckons Robby's Team Speed Energy spent over $100 million in an effort to get on the 2015 Dakar Rally podium, but as far as I'm concerned 19th is a fine finishing spot in a field of 138 cars.

Besides, nobody gets more spectator love than hard-driving showman Robby Gordon.

Hopefully finishing puts Mr. G in a better spot to set up for the 2016 Dakar, where he just might be joined by another American in the field of two-wheel drive desert race rigs.

Here's how Robby was running at the end of every stage in the race, via Planet Robby. Braking issues crimped his style early on, but he fought hard and clawed his way up from 48th all the way to 19th by the end of the event.

  • After Stage 1 42 seconds behind – (2nd place in the overall standings)

  • After Stage 2 4 hours, 6 minutes behind – (48th place in the overall standings)

  • After Stage 3 4 hours, 24 minutes behind – (40th place in the overall standings)

  • After Stage 4 5 hours, 47 minutes behind – (39th place in the overall standings)

  • After Stage 5 5 hours, 45 minutes behind – (32nd place in the overall standings)

  • After Stage 6 5 hours, 47 minutes behind – (25th place in the overall standings)

  • After Stage 7 5 hours, 48 minutes behind – (23rd place in the overall standings)

  • After Stage 8 6 hours, 53 minutes behind – (24th place in the overall standings)

  • After Stage 9 7 hours, 22 minutes behind – (20th place in the overall standings)

  • After Stage 10 7 hours, 41 minutes behind – (20th place in the overall standings)

  • After Stage 11 7 hours, 44 minutes behind – (19th place in the overall standings)

  • After Stage 12 7 hours, 48 minutes behind – (19th place in the overall standings)

  • After Stage 13 7 hours, 47 minutes behind – (19th place in the overall standings)

    Images via PlanetRobby, AP

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