SONANGOL AFRICA ECO RACE - Thursday 2ND of January STAGE 3: FOUM ZGUID / ASSA: 404 km STAGE: FOUM ZGUID / ASSA: 387 km LIAISON: ASSA / BIVOUAC: 17km
The stage from Foum Zguid to Assa, 387km long, was a real pleasure in terms of driving for the auto class. The smile on each drivers face at the end of the stage proved it. The happiest was for sure the Frenchman, Jean Antoine SABATIER, who won his second stage on the 2014 SONANGOL AFRICA ECO RACE.
He won the stage at the wheel of his BUGGA ONE with 4,13 min in front of Jean Louis SCHLESSER who was quite surprised. He becomes five times event winner, SCHLESSER's first opponent after the triple puncture of Balazs SZALAY and the transmissions problems of Philippe PORCHERON on this 4th stage. Jacques LOOMANS, 4th of the day and 3rd overall, 8,10 mins away from the leader.
Michel TURON BARRERE with his CRD Buggy, punctured both rear tyres after a harsh jump on finished 5th of the day and is 5th in the overall rankings: “ I had great fun today with beautiful powerslides over 160 km/h ! I love it ! Thanks to Guillaume’s great navigation but also to a very well explained road book. I feel completely confident at the wheel of a fabulous car. 5th position is way over what I was expecting.”
In the OPEN category, Guillaume JORDA and Xavier LORMAND won today’s stage after a very difficult day yesterday, where they had to do over 300km without brakes. Stephane HENRARD is leading the category at the 8th place in the overall raking.
In the T2 category, which is close to standard, Marc AVAZIAN won todays stage even though Philippe THIOLAT is still leading the category at the wheel of his KJD TOYOTA.
Finally, in the T3 category ( SSV ), after yesterday’s mechanical problems, Philippe PINCHEDEZ stayed all day in ZAGORA to repair and will be at the start in ASSA tomorrow.
Elisabete JACINTO shows her teeths in the Truck category
After the two first days dominated by Tomas TOMECEK and his TATRA truck, Elisabete JACINTO wonher first stage 16 minutes ahead of the Czech. That takes her only 5,59 minutes behind in the overall ranks and she is determined to continue her ascension. Behind, Hungarian Miklos KOVACS ends third and secures his podium position in the Truck category.
Unexpected THEURETZBACHER in bike category
At the start of stage 4, Robert THEURETZBACHER was unknown in professional off road motorcycling. Tonight, his status has changed in the bike class of the SONANGOL AFRICA ECO RACE. Indeed, the 37 year old Austrian won todays tricky navigation stage on his 450 KTM. Harite GABARI got surprised and fell, injuring himself at the shoulder. Today’s stage was maybe the last one for the Morrocan.
Another fall today but without major consequences for Martin FONTYN. The Belgian fell quite hard but after a bit of rest and repair he managed to restart even though his bike was quite damaged. He finished 4th behind Joris VAN DYCK and Dominique ROBIN.
Even if he finished 5th of the day, the Corsican, Mickael PISANO takes the overall lead right front of ROBIN 3,14 min behind and TEURETZBACHER 6,30 min behind. The battle on two wheels is harsh, the top 5 is covered by less than 10 minutes.
Todsay the 2014 SONANGOL AFRICA ECO RACE continues its progression towards the south, with stage 5 from ASSA to AS KAHN, 404km of which 389km of selective sectors.
