Seeing a starting bulletin for today, we were very surprised. Taking into consideration the kilometrage of the special stage and liaison (454+240), one might expect an early start. But organizers set a start of the first vehicle only at 9. However, on the route we realized the reason.
We spent almost all day on absolutely smooth (in the context of rally-raids) plateau, connected with each other with rocky slopes. We could go at the top speed more than 400 km of the total route. Trucks have a speed limit 150 kmh, but cars went at the full speed, as fast as their engine allowed them to drive, top gear and a gas pedal to the floor. Results are predictable. Anton Shibalov’s crew is first among trucks and Sergey Kuprianov is the second with time difference of 1,5 min. But in the general results we could pretend only to 12th and 13th positions. That was the route of the 5th stage today.
Tomorrow is a “rest day”. It means all the team is going to work hard: a big, extended service, check of all aggregates and parts, schedule replacement of springs, etc. On the Atlantic coast near Dakhla city the team will get themselves something to do…
http://www.africarace-live.com/en/cla-etp5.html
Text Sergey Kuprianov
