NASCAR driver Robby Gordon and the rest of Team HUMMER had a very rough time during stage 3 of the 2010 Dakar Rally.

The stage, taking the drivers from La Rioja to Fiambala, was the first section of sand dunes in the Rally. Team HUMMER was looking forward to the dune stages because they expected to do exceptionally well in the sand. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

Gordon soon discovered that his Monster Energy/Toyo Tires HUMMER had very little momentum in the sand due to smaller restrictors.

“I feel we are at a major disadvantage when it comes to restrictors.  My top speed is about 165mph and the Volkswagens’ are going 190mph. Plus my Monster Energy / Toyo Tires HUMMER needs to carry extra weight because of the fuel mileage we get,” Gordon said. “The sand dunes in this stage needed the car to have forward momentum to get through them.  I would run up and try to come down and get stuck. For tomorrow we’ll move on and drive again.”

He ended the stage one hour and four minutes behind the leaders which put him 12th in the stage and 9th overall.

The two other Team HUMMER vehicles did not fair well either in this stage.

The Chile HUMMER and the Vanguard HUMMER both suffered mechanical issues, clutch problems and a transmission failure, respectively. Both had to be towed to Fiambala.

The team is regrouping and will be ready to do their best in today’s stage four from Fiambala to Copiapo, a journey of 629 km.

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