Zoom

A special sector that gets harder and harder. A mixture of the dunes of Mauritania and those of Dubai. The main problem facing the competitors is the extreme heat in the dunes (51°).Chabot was brilliant in T2, but the Gibon brothers had terrible luck, breaking a driveshaft and suffering from a fuel pressure problem, losing petrol everywhere. The entire stage took place against a fantasy backdrop of high and very yellow dunes.

Paal Anders Ullevalseter wasn't able to manage on his motorbike, trying in vain to make life hard for the overall leader - nothing worked. Jaroslav Katrinak finished Norwegian's tyre tracks, and it wasn't for the want of trying: “The Special was really great; sometimes it was hard, but really good, just like I like it. I was waiting for them (Katrinak and Kolomtysyn riding together) to make a mistake, but it was in vain. I thought I had them, but, two minutes later, the Slovakian was behind me again,” was the blonde Norwegian's analysis. Katrinak continues to control the race. Whenever the pressure mounts, the Slovakian is quick to find an answer to the problems facing him and shows his direct adversaries that he is the undisputed boss of this category. Alexei Kolomytsyn has ridden a good race (is he already resigned to losing?). The final contest will be between these three men, with the Slovakian having the significant advantage of the KTM 690 #2.

José-Luis Monterde continues his relaxed stroll through China in his car. Although, the day before, he had surprised everyone by making a mistake, the Schlesser buggy driver was back on track today. “In addition to the race, we had to overcome another huge problem with the intense heat, which forced me to slow down to cool off the Schlesser buggy engine. Three days from the end, I didn't want to take any unnecessary risks.”. François Delecour, in second place, is becoming more and more confident in the dunes : “It was a little better today …because I didn't get stuck. I know how to tackle the dunes. I like that and, today, it paid off.”

The performance of the day came from the Chabot-Pillot. team, the leaders in the T2 4-wheel drive, and, what's more, in front of the Bowler team. “We suffered a lot, but I am confident, as are my opponents. The temperature in the car was 51°, whilst we were crossing the dunes. I was really pleased at finishing the day in 4th place,” confirmed Ronan, the driver of the Toyota Land Cruiser. Étienne Smulevici, buoyant after his promising 7th ;place, did not stint in his praise of the day: “The dunes were really fine today, in both senses – the beauty of the landscape and the fact that they were difficult. I've never seen such awesome landscape, even in 92 and 95 and including the great René Metge!”