Isidre Esteve red marks the arrival of Dakar in the desert of Empty Quarter (empty area). That’s right. This Wednesday, the Repsol Toyota Rally Team signed its most competitive performance in this edition. In today’s special 118 kilometers, completely on the sands, the Spanish team qualified less than ten minutes from the lead and, above all, reconfirmed its increase in speed. In the general classification, he gained two more positions and is now 24th (17th in T1+).
The driver from Ilerda had already warned the previous day that he was looking forward to the most difficult race in the world through the desert, because it is a terrain where he feels very good at the wheel of the Toyota Hilux T1+, and it has been noticed. “It was a fantastic stage. We had to overtake five trucks and it was quite difficult, the sand was very disturbed. But the car was perfect and we kept a good speed in the dunes. We were fast and there were no mistake, and we got a good time,” said a satisfied Isidre Esteve.
The performance of the team supported by Repsol, MGS Seguros, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing España and KH-7 was more remarkable due to the parity in the leading group. Despite giving only 9 minutes and 39 seconds to multiple champion Nasser Al-Attiyah, the Spanish team achieved 33rd position in the special (15th among T1+ cars). The parity is such that in a few minutes less they climb into the absolute partial Top 20.
“We know it will happen, we just have to have a good day. I am very happy for the whole team; for Txema, for the mechanics, for the engineers, for all the people around us who make us happy in this car and discipline,” said the Repsol Toyota Rally Team driver.
Regardless of the position on the stage, the good partial record allows Esteve and his co-driver Txema Villalobos to enter the absolute Top 25. And, above all, there is a good feeling. “Maybe those in front, who were not disturbed by the terrain, could have run a little more, but we had a lot of fun. I feel good and the car is running well, so we are ready and looking forward to the ’48 hour time trial’ coming up today. I think our Toyota is perfect for these kinds of specials,” Esteve said.
The pilot of Oliana (Lleida) refers to one of the highlights of this edition, the “48-hour time trial”, which starts this Thursday from Shubaytah. It is a marathon stage of 818 kilometers, 584 of which are timed and entirely on the sand and sand of the Empty Quarter. What is unique is that the special will be held over two days, with no help between them, beyond the means of car crews.
So, this Thursday, at 4:00 pm (local time), there will be a curfew and the pilots will have to stop to spend the night in the nearest bivouac (or “breakzone”), among the seven distributed throughout. route. The next day, Friday the 12th at 7:00 am, they will continue their march to complete the special. Furthermore, the route will be different for motorcycles and cars, so that the latter will run without previous traces.
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.
