Al-Attiyah and VW go on the attack

This Sunday morning, the “Sierra da Cordoba”, which this second special crossed, was plunged into rain and fog. We would have thought we were in the Cévennes in the fall, rather than in the middle of the southern summer! Although claiming not to have ridden at 100%, Nasser Al Attiyah hit hard: “I had a good feeling, I didn't take any risks, especially since the visibility was very reduced. We couldn't see ten meters away. I am very happy this evening to be at the head of the Dakar, but we have to take the days one after the other. Tomorrow, we will evolve in the great desert spaces, and it will be totally different. »

Having resolved his problems from the day before, Guerlain Chicherit remembered everyone by setting the second time, ahead of the Brazilian Mauricio Neves. But in the general classification, the positions are more classic, with Sainz in second place and Peterhansel third.

“It was a very nice special,” explained Stéphane Peterhansel. “It’s a shame that the rain made the start very slippery, because there was some great driving. We drove carefully, as the slightest mistake could be catastrophic, there were many large rocks, ditches, etc. »

As proof of Stéphane's words, Nani Roma, who opened the track, slipped in a tight bend, went over an embankment and took eight minutes to return to the road, helped by the spectators. Fortunately, his BMW X3 had not suffered at all, simply breaking its GPS antennas. As for the Mitsubishi Racing Lancers, the Argentinian Terranova also rolled in the same corner, while Nicolas Misslin hit a tree at the end of the course, without major damage to the two cars.