However, yesterday's action for Team De Rooy, actually started much earlier in the day than when the cars, trucks, quads and bikes were flagged away for SS12. #515 Pep Vila, in one of the team's two fast assistance Iveco trucks actually reached the bivouac at 1.30 a.m. after his struggles in SS11. After his arrival at bivouac, Hugo Duister’s team of mechanics had to start repairing the stricken truck. The gearbox was replaced with a spare unit and the coupling was also replaced. At 6 a.m. yesterday morning the mechanics reported that the truck was “ready to start”. Just in time for the Spanish team member to tackle the twelfth stage, although after losing much time and dropping down the order.

What should have become the day of reckoning though, started with an announcement from the organisers that, due to bad weather, part of the special stage has been cancelled which meant less dunes. However, it was a day that saw the Ivecos cementing their dominance on this year's event and at the finish line they occupied the top four places.

"It was a beautiful stage today and we drove very defensive," said #505 Hans Stacey. "In the dunes it was very nasty and our cooperation was perfect. I got stuck about 4 times so I had to go back and try again but luckily we didn’t have to come out of the truck. Gerard got stuck once, quite a deep hole and he had all the luck in the world but his truck was damaged. The Iveco’s from Miki and me proved themselves 100% today. The only damage I have is a broken shock absorber at the front left, but I think this is still a result of the broken leaf spring we had yesterday at the same position”.

The first checkpoint (WP1) was cancelled due to the changes made to the route at short notice. Yesterday the battle was again between the Ivecos and principally Karginov in his factory Kamaz. After 23.13 minutes Gerard De Rooy passed through the first timed point (WP2) leading, 39 seconds ahead of Stacey, while just 1 second later came Karginov. Vila was working hard to make up his lost ground after his bad luck on SS11, and he had to start thirty third; however at WP2 he clocked through thirteen and was just 3 minutes behind. Gerard De Rooy then passed through WP3 after 48 minutes, 9 seconds ahead of Karginov with Stacey a minute adrift with Miki Biasion for close company. At the final waypoint (WP4) there were three Ivecos through in the first three positions. De Rooy was still in the lead while Biasion (#511 Iveco) followed 57 seconds adrift. Stacey was third and the Dutchman was only 1.49 minutes behind. Wuf van Ginkel had now passed Karginov and took fourth; he was 2.17 minutes away from Gerard. Further back Vila was still gaining ground and took eleventh place, 16.36 minutes behind Gerard.

At the finish line, Jan de Rooy, the team manager,  had a big smile on his face as the Team De Rooy Ivecos filled the top four places and stage winner Gerard claimed a fifth victory for the Dutch outfit. It was close too, Gerard was only 32 seconds ahead of Miki and Hans, who both clock the same time, at the finish. Jo Adua, in the rapid assistance Iveco, took fourth place in his Trakker Evo I and was only 10.16 minutes behind Gerard. The East European trucks came in at a respectful distance. Wuf van Ginkel (#506 Ginaf) was the first non-Iveco in fifth place, 15.17 minutes behind Gerard while Valtr, the Czech driver in the #530 Liaz finished sixth at 15.33 minutes back. Vila meanwhile recovered well to finish eighth, 18.12 minutes behind the leader, to make it five Ivecos in the top eight.

Overall, De Rooy remains the strong rally leader and is well ahead of team mate Stacey who is 56.30 minutes back in second place. The gap from Stacey to the third driver on the classification, #503 Ardavichus (Kamaz), is 43.13 minutes. Ardua, Biasion and Vila are all in the top-ten, the latter two having fought back well from major problems and resulting time losses.

Today will see the last 'real' special stage of the Dakar 2012, from Nasca to Pisco, in Peru. There are two more rally days to go but traditionally Sunday’s special is meant to thank sponsors and public for their support during the rally and normally doesn’t result in any changes for the general rankings. Today's Stage 13 however will be a tough test, again featuring sand and dunes. The day will start with a liaison of 76 kilometres followed by the timed special of 276 kilometres.