Isidre Esteve and Txema Villalobos has ended Morocco Rally in an extraordinary seventh overall position, his best classification in a world rally-raid on four wheels. The representatives of Repsol Toyota Rally Team They sealed this final result after finishing the fifth stage in twelfth position, 13 minutes and five seconds behind the best time.
The first contact of Esteve and Villalobos with the Toyota Hilux T1+ could not be more promising. The first 1,506 competitive kilometers along the new mountain of Repsol Toyota Rally Team the good sensations of previous tests were confirmed and strengthened Isidre Esteve and Txema Villalobos in seventh place in the general classification of Morocco Rally after five difficult episodes, including a prologue, which constitutes a magnificent dress rehearsal for Dakar 2023.
“From the whole rally in Morocco, we were left with everything we learned from the car, the very high speeds it allows and the level of safety we enjoy. before tackling each day’s specials. We have improved in all areas, including the navigation section. In addition, the Hilux T1+ responded well to all the changes we were making as the test progressed, so, in other words, it was an exceptional test to prepare as a team for the big challenge in January”, explained the of Oliana.
Esteve also emphasized the importance of the seventh scratch position and the T1 category, a reward for everyone’s effort and which the driver from Lleida put in context: “We appreciate this classification very much, because the level of rivals is very high. But it came to us only because one day you suddenly get a top car.; This is the result of all the years of work and experience of all team members. We are very grateful to the sponsors who have been with us up to this point: Repsol, MGS Seguros, KH-7 and Toyota Spain, among others. I also want to thank my wife Lidia Guerrero for her work and dedication. Today, our adaptation process to the Hilux T1+ has just begun. We still have a lot to improve and learn, but the result in Morocco encourages us to move forward. We really want to know how far we can go!”
Next station: Andalusia Rally
The Morocco Rally ended this afternoon after the dispute in its fifth and final stage, connecting Tan-Tan and Agadir, with a total of 379 km and two timed sections of 92 and 70 km, respectively . Esteve and Villalobos finished in twelfth place in 13:05 with the best time of the day and without any setbacks, as the Catalan said: “We had fun! In addition, we were able to maintain the differences in the general classification without too much trouble”.
The Morocco Rally closes the first stage of Dakar preparation for the Repsol Toyota Rally Team. The last competition before the Dakar for the team is the Andalucía Rally, the final qualifying event for the World Rally-Raid Championship, which will be held in Seville from October 19 to 23.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
