The length of special stages in Africa increases, there are more dunes and sand. Today the route was 450 km long, one third of which consisted of sand elements – tough beds of dried-up rivers, high and small dunes. Approximately one fourth were stony roads, passes, blind creeks. The rest of the route had fast ground roads with hard surface. There also were plenty of holes and bumps on them. Crews were shaking in cabs for five hours and a half, but came satisfied to the finish. We spent the day in one breath, without failures and problems, but constant change of the route type kept us on our toes.
Today Anton Shibalov’s crew finished first in the truck category (5 h. 11 min), Sergey Kuprianov’s crew were the second (5h. 18 min).
We had no breakdowns, but wheels “suffered” a lot on the stony parts, and need change. The biggest impression on us made a huge solonchak, so flat and straight as a table, where we were to drive for 10 km. We even saw a mirage on it – when you drive closer, you have a feeling that the surface is covered with water. But this is an illusion, you can drive straight without any fear, and water “goes away”…Perhaps it is the New Year Eve that tells on us...
Although we are in Africa and far from home, we will definitely decorate the New Year tree at our bivouac! There will be kind congratulations of friends and teammates, calls from home…and a new “battle” tomorrow morning!
|
400 |
SHIBALOV ANTON |
05:11:29 |
|
403 |
KUPRIANOV SERGEY |
+ 00:06:50 |
|
401 |
TOMECEK TOMAS |
+ 00:44:43 |
|
402 |
JACINTO ELISABETE |
+ 01:09:00 |
|
405 |
KOVACS MIKLOS |
+ 01:28:37 |
http://www.africarace-live.com/en/cla-etp3.html
.jpg)
.jpg)
