The Qatari Nasser Al Attiyah (Toyota) this Monday consolidated its leadership in the general vehicle classification of Morocco Rally after the third stage, a 336-kilometer special to Zagora and where the Spanish Carlos Sainz (Audi) was delayed by engine problems.
Al Attyiyah, who on Sunday secured his second consecutive rally-raid world title, was second in the third stage behind Swede Matthias Ekstroem, who sealed Audi’s first victory by just six seconds over the Qatari. Frenchman Sébastien Loeb (Bahrain Raid Xtreme) completed the podium by 14 seconds.
Swabian Yazeed Al Rajhi (Overdrive Racing) was fourth in 1:34, while Belgian Guillaume de Mevius completed the ‘Top 5’ in 4:59. Some mechanical problems with his Audi relegate Carlos Sainz in thirtieth place.
The French pairs formed by Stéphane Peterhansel/Edouard Boulanger (Audi Sport) and Guerlain Chicherit/Alex Winocq (Audi Sport) completed the Top 5 in 19’39” and 22’51.
Schareina hat trick; Price, new leader in motorcycles
On motorcycles, the second stage (third if you count the prologue) was a win for the Spaniard Tosha Schareina (Honda), despite being responsible for opening the track, and changing the leader.
The Chilean Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) was fastest in the special, 14 seconds ahead of the Valencian, but he collected the 5:54 bonus at stake on Monday, which is why he won the third stage with a 3:06 minute margin over the Australian. Toby Price (KTM), new leader of the general classification, and 3:46 on Cornejo.
Botswana’s Ross Branch (Hero MotoSports) was fifth in 7:58 and gave Price the lead.
World championship leader, Argentine Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) had a 9-point lead over Price before the Morocco Rally, but after three stages the Australian leads the rally while the Argentine is in fourth place after losing his Monday 8:11. With this result, Price would win the title by 3 points.
Also the Chilean Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) had a good day, but the lack of bonuses relegated him to 6:58 behind Scharena. Spaniard Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) finished seventh in 9:06, and Adrien van Beveren (Honda) was eighth in 12:24.
Full of victories in quads for Argentine Manuel Andújar
Manuel Andujar (Drag’on Rally) signed his third consecutive victory by beating Czech Juraj Varga (Varga Motorsport Team) in 6:37 and Frenchman Alexandre Giroud (Team Giroud) in 13:36 to complete his total victory in the rally.
The Argentine now has an advantage of 39:13 minutes over Giroud and 43:25 over Varga in the provisional general classification.
World championship leader Laisvydas Kancius (Story Racing) was forced to retire due to a mechanical failure. Varga is 23 points behind the Lithuanian, while Guatemalan Rodolfo Guillioli, currently fifth in the rally, is 13 points behind.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
