MOTORSPORT NEWS OFF ROAD

Rally of Morocco: Sainz leads after second loop

A former  World Rally Champion and Dakar winner, Carlos Sainz in a Peugeot 2008 DKR, has taken the lead on the Oilibya Rally of Morocco after the second stage today. The South African pair of Giniel de Villiers and Leeroy Poulter, both in Toyota Hi-lux vehicles, have dropped back to 6th and 7th overall.

Morocco

Today’s stage was a 224 km loop from Draa back to draa.Second overall was another Dakar winner, Nasser Al-Attiyah in an Z-Raid mini 1′ 24″ behind Sainz. Third was yesterday’s learderafter the first day, Yazeed Al-Rajhi also in a Toyota Hi-Lux 8′ 13″ behind Al-Attiyah.

After all the problems that he suffered yesterday, Sebastien Loeb started the rally in his Peugeot 2008 DKR. The engine of the car was replaced overnight and Loeb had a clean run on the stage finishing in 6th position. He was penalised with 10 hours yesterday after the turbo of the Peugeot packed up and he had to be towed to the finish in Zagora.

The Oilibya Rally of Morocco is the final round of the FIA World Cross Country Cup. Vladimir Vasilev, the current log leader in the championship, was 4th overall 9′ 47″ in his Toyota Hilux.

In the section for bikes, Sam Sunderland on a KTM, showed why he was so highly rated when he finished the stage first overall. He has taken the lead from Joan Barreda on a Honda who is 2′ 33 behind Sunderland. Third overall in the section for bikes was  Pablo Quintanilla also on a KTM 4′ 52 behind the leader.

STAGE 3 : LOOP OF M’HAMID – LIAISON 196 KMS – STAGE 274 KMS

Wednesday 7th October

Still a lot of sand in this 3rd stage. The race departure of this special will be on sinuous and sandy tracks and bring competitors to cross dunes. Then they will join a huge tray where speed lovers will express themselves before getting back on to technical and stony tracks.  The navigation will must be with the cap to join a fast and sandy track, before final passage of dunes.

Top ten cars overall after stage 2:

1 Progresssion+3 311 esp SAINZ Carlos
CRUZ Lucas
PEUGEOT T1 / 1 4 / 1 05:29:27
2 Progresssion+1 300 qat AL ATTIYAH Nasser
BAUMEL Matthieu
MINI T1 / 2 2 / 1 05:30:51 00:01:24
3 Progresssion-2 305 sau AL RAJHI Yazeed
GOTTSCHALK Timo
TOYOTA T1 / 3 1 / 1 05:37:40 00:08:13
4 Progresssion-2 301 rus VASILYEV Vladimir
ZHILTSOV Konstantin
TOYOTA T1 / 4 1 / 2 05:39:14 00:09:47
5 Progresssion+2 304 ndl VAN LOON Erik
ROSEGAAR Wouter
X-RAID T1 / 5 2 / 2 05:46:41 00:17:14
6 Progresssion+3 310 zaf DE VILLIERS Giniel
VON ZITZEWITZ Dirk
TOYOTA T1 / 6 1 / 3 05:47:47 00:18:20
7 Progresssion-1 328 zaf POULTER Leeroy norma
HOWIE Robert duncan
TOYOTA T1 / 7 1 / 4 05:47:53 00:18:26
8 Progresssion-3 314 por DIAS POREM Ricardo
MONTEIRO Jorge
TOYOTA T1 / 8 1 / 5 05:55:29 00:26:02
9 Progresssion+1 303 cze ZAPLETAL Miroslav
MARTON Maciej
HUMMER T1 / 9 1 / 6 05:58:50 00:29:23
10 Progresssion+2 309 fin HIRVONEN Mikko
PERIN Michel
X-RAID T1 / 10 2 / 3 05:59:43 00:30:16