Stage : 409 km Start from the bivouac Special Stage ASSA / REMZ EL QUEBIR : 409 km
PUSHING TOWARDS SOUTH !
The 4th stage of the AFRICA ECO RACE had to be the most interesting in terms of piloting on four wheels, but the trenches caused by the recent rains in this region of Morocco also brought out quite a lot of stones on the Rally route - So in Auto and truck, the punctures were numerous and shoke up the hierarchy established since the beginning of the event, but without having major consequence in the overall classification.
SELLA CONTINUES HIS SHOW
For the second time since the start of the race Gev SELLA opened the track in the morning starting directly from the bivouac of Assa. A complicated exercise which the young KTM rider managed with ease since he won his third victory in four days. Undoubtedly, Gev SELLA is the great revelation of Rally and the bike discipline since all the specialists present on the AFRICA ECO RACE agree he is a phenomenon. In spite of a fall and a slight error on the course, the South African imposed himself 13.17 ahead of Paolo CECI.
Harite GABARI completed the podium by with 25.48. The Moroccan finished in front of Pal Anders ULLEVALSETER, a victim of a big fall at kilometer 305 caused by hitting a rock in a left turn. The Norwegian not unduly concerned as there is still a long way to Dakar. Behind him, for the second consecutive day is Russian Dmitry AGOSHKOV who is very competitive in the dunes.
Three new riders enter the top 10 on this stage, Portuguese Didier FREDERICO, 8th at 1:20.39, Spanish Juan Jose CAMPDERA LOZANO, 9th at 1: 21.40 and Italian Walter DALMASSO, 10th at 1: 21.42. Gev SELLA now has more than an hour in hand ahead of all his opponents. Enough to ensure Friday’s last Moroccan stage.
Despite his 2nd place overall, Thierry MAGNALDI never really smiles, and small errors have prevented him from passing the MINI of Vladimir VASILYEV. But on Thursday the Frenchman won the match.The Russian finished 2nd by conceding 4.16 but MAGNALDI still did not jump of joy as he knows that he was helped by three punctures which hindered his opponent.
VASILYEV wass not the only one who had to work on the track with his co-driver to change wheels.
Andrey CHEREDNIKOV and his FORD Raptor went third quickest with 15.57 and was very happy at the finish: "This stage was incredible in terms of driving. I took a lot of pleasure and I advise to all drivers who love Africa and Offroad Rallies to participate to the AFRICA ECO RACE!
Behind him was Patrick SIREYJOL at the wheel of his LCR30 Buggy at with 16.46, Pascal THOMASSE at 18.24 and Miroslav ZAPLETAL at 18.58 with his HUMMER.
Dominique HOUSIEAUX, put in a nice performance to finish 7th with 21.31 after a superb fight with the BMW of Victor KHOROSHAVTSEV at 23.22.
There a race within the race inside this top 10 between the Tarek buggies of Patrick MARTIN and the OPEL of the Hungarian Balazs SZALAY separated by only 22 seconds to the advantage of SZALAY.
Overall, Vladimir VASILYEV still leads the dance with 27.25 ahead of Thierry MAGNALDI. Pascal THOMASSE and Andrey KARGINOV are already more than an hour behind.
FIRST VICTORY FOR KUPRIANOV
In the trucks category, the leader of the category Andrey KARGINOV also suffered with two punctures. As a result, his teammate from Team KAMAZ took the opportunity to win the special stage by taking the 11th place in the car / truck category. A first victory for the Hybrid truck, which works with Gas, and should attract others. Once again, Jaroslav VALTR's TATRA completes the podium of the day.
On Friday January 6th the AFRICA ECO RACE will continue its dive towards the South to finally join DAKHLA, for a well deserved rest day on Saturday January 7th.
Meanwhile, competitors will still need to cover 700 kilometers. The stage long of 457 kilometers initially planned will be cut short by the first 180 kilometers since this part of the course, composed mainly in Wadi Amra, is inaccessible due to the rupture of a dike in Laayoune during recent floods.
