CROSS COUNTRY – AL-ATTIYAH/BAUMEL STORM THROUGH THE DUNES

Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel powered thru the 2nd leg of the Rallye du Maroc, blitzing the opposition by a resounding 11 minutes and nine seconds. The Toyota Hilux duo now head team-mates Giniel de Villiers/Alex Haro by more than 17 minutes with Stéphane and Andrea Peterhansel rounding out the head three lawful 37 seconds extra adrift within the lead MINI.

Sunday’s leg of the final round of the FIA World Cup for Imperfect Nation Rallies turned into once the 2nd longest of the tournament and took the crews to the sand and dunes on a 386 kilometre loop around the bivouac in Erfoud. Al-Attiyah turned into once in commanding produce at some level of the total share, leading the crews encourage to sanctuary after five hours of competitive riding in intense warmth. “It turned into once a prolonged day!” acknowledged the Qatari. “It turned into once no longer a straightforward share and we had one puncture however no mistakes with the navigation. It turned into once a lawful stage for us, usually at 100% however varied cases it turned into once tough to push.”

De Villiers started the day in third and moved up a bunch with fourth fastest thru the share, despite a damaged manifold after 240 kilometres. “It turned into once very hard, we misplaced vitality and the auto turned into once utilizing more fuel,” acknowledged the South African. “We reached the construct with lawful 10 litres left so it turned into once a chunk contact and jog. It turned into once about survival and we’ll strive again day after at present.”

The husband and spouse crew of Stéphane and Andrea Peterhansel climbed into third total, furthermore third fastest over the assorted share. “It turned into once a in actuality fine and engaging particular, however sophisticated with the navigation; hard within the dunes,” acknowledged the Frenchman. “We had no issues, punctures and by no blueprint got caught, lawful a diminutive bit time misplaced with two exiguous navigation issues.”

After surroundings a resounding slide the day prior to this, when he and co-driver Fabian Lurquin were 2nd fastest, Mathieu Serradori dropped time this day and he executed the stage in seventh. The French/Belgian pairing fall to fourth total in their Century Racing CR6.

Bernhard ten Brinke and Tom Colsoul seize fifth set, despite dropping lawful over 18 minutes within the share. “That turned into once tricky, very tough,” acknowledged ten Brinke. “We were fairly shut to Giniel [de Villiers] and in his mud, after which we picked up a puncture. It turned into once lawful within the dunes however we then had one more puncture and 60 kilometres earlier than the construct the driveshaft broke. It turned into once tricky, however the Toyota did lawful and got us here.”

Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz transfer from eighth to sixth, the Spaniards now over 30 minutes off the lead. “We had a navigation dispute within the dunes and got caught a couple of cases,” acknowledged Sainz. “No longer in actuality easy, plus one puncture.”

Erik van Loon, co-pushed by Sebastien Delaunay, holds seventh overnight after a lawful day in his Toyota Hilux. “That turned into once a genuine stage, it had the entire lot,” acknowledged the Dutchman. “We modified the suspension overnight and the entire lot has worked successfully this day.”

After their brake and tyre issues the day prior to this, Jakub Przygoński and Timo Gottschalk loved a grand better day and were handiest beaten by Al-Attiyah within the share. “It turned into once prolonged and navigation turned into once tough over a gigantic quantity of terrain,” commented the Pole, eighth overnight. “I’m elated we had a lawful rhythm however we misplaced a diminutive while no longer reaching the head of the dunes. It turned into once a in actuality prolonged day, tricky for the auto however we had no technical issues or punctures.”

Aron Domzala and Maciej Marton proceed to transfer the T3 category in their Can-Am Maverick X3, the Poles ninth overnight within the total classification.

Fernando Alonso, co-pushed by Marc Coma, had a grand better day having been blighted by punctures within the opening leg. They rocketed up the leaderboard with 10th fastest time from 21st to 10th total. “It turned into once a lawful misfortune-free day and I loved the tubby kilometres with no issues,” acknowledged the three time FIA F1 and WEC World Champion. “The launch screech turned into once again tough for us with the mud, however I’m elated with the blueprint it went; it turned into once savory.”

Martin Prokop/Jan Tománek dropped off the head 10 leaderboard with unconfirmed issues and Yazeed Al Rajhi/Michael Orr misplaced time with the navigation.

The third leg on Monday is one more prolonged share covering 363 kilometres, again looping internal and out of Erfoud.

Rallye du Maroc – Provisional outcomes after Leg 2 (19: 05 hrs local)

Fernando Alonso/Marc Coma

Pictures: @DPPI