6 January 2014 STAGE N° 6: DAKHLA / CHAMI: 611km LIAISON: DAKHLA / BOULANOUAR: 427km SPECIAL STAGE: BOULANOUAR / CHAMI: 174km LIAISON: CHAMI / BIVOUAC: 10km
Monday 6th of January saw a long liaison of 380 km to join the border between Mauritania and Morocco for the participants of the SONANGOL AFRICA ECO RACE.
The competition continued through a stage of 174km, which was quick in general but also with some important navigation portions. Some of the main characters in Auto and Bike category fell in the trap.
Bike: THEURETZBACHER wins his second stage of the Race.
Already victorious on the 3rd stage between Foum Zguid and Assa, where navigation was very important, Robert THEURETZBACHER confirmed today he was a good navigator and a fast biker as well. Indeed, the Austrian biker won today’s stage 1’21 in front of PISANO even though he started behing the Corsican biker.
PISANO was also very quick, leaving Harite GABARI 3rd at 5’41 and showing his qualities. “ I wanted to show to my opponent I can navigate and be quick as well. I’m now gonna go to the bivouac to get ready and continue this way tomorrow”
Pressure is on between the HONDA 450 biker and his direct opponents riding on KTMs 690, Dominique DUBOIS, 5th at 7’07 and Nobert DUBOIS at 9’11 after having had an error on track. Joris VAN DYCK and Gwen BACKX continue to impress and finish 4th and 7th on their KTMs. Concerning Julia SCHRENK, the Rally QUEEN, the resting day was very good for her as she finished a comendable 18th in front of several bikers on this, her first rally.
In the general rankings, before the big battle in the dunes starts today, Tuesday, from Chami to Akjoujt, PISANO is 13’09 in front of Dominique ROBIN and has 39’40 on Nobert DUBOIS, who should start to worry with menacing Joris VAN DYCK at 2’44.
Car: 3rd Victory for SABATIER !
A quick stage means a buggy Buggy victory. Except it wasn’t Jean Louis SCHLESSER, as expected, but Jean Antoine SABATIER on his Bugga One in front of Balazs SZALAY and his Opel V8 prototype at 2’34. An impressive performance which gives anopportunity to the Frenchman to get closer to 2nd place, occupied by Jackie LOOMANS. SCHLESSER ended the stage on 4th position.
The outsiders took advantage of this situation. The Hummers of Yuriy SAZONOV and Kanat SHAGIROV finished 3rd and 7th, whereas Stephane HENRARD and Frederique PITOUT ended the 174km long stage 5th and 9th. Michel TURON BARRERE finished in 10th place on his Predator BUGGY. In the rigid axles category, victory went to Geatan GE on his BOWLER Wildcat, whereas Philippe THIOLAT wins the T2 category.
In the general rankings, and before the demanding Mauritanian sandy stages, Jean Louis SCHLESSER leads by 49’20 in front of Jean Antoine SABATIER and 52’19 in front of Jackie LOOMANS. But be aware, things can change very quickly in any direction.
Truck: TOMECEK aboard of his TATRA EXPRESS
Finishing 10th scratch of the day aboard of his TATRA TRUCK, Tomas TOMECEK wanted to show he is also present on quick stages. As a result of Monday’s stage the Czech finished 8’14 in front of Elisabete JACINTO at the wheel of her MAN. Noel ESSERS and MAN truck is on the podium once again at 13’53 from the TATRA.
The Struggler of the SONANGOL AFRICA ECO RACE
Thomas SCHATTAT has been participating to the SONANGOL AFRICA ECO RACE since the first event held in 2009, with his 450 YAMAHA. The 50 year old engineer has no assistance at all and the only things he takes on the rally is carried by the organization truck. He spent all day yesterday checking up his bike. Ending 12th on Monday’s stage but unfortunately broke his engine during the liaison to Chami. Luckily, the legendary mutual aid on off road rallies helped him out. Elite Racing gave him a spare engine to finished the race. After having 10 hours on the bike and 4 hours to change the 450cc engine, Thomas SCHATTAT started today next to Julia SCHRENK ahead of the Mauritanian dunes.
