Gordon defeats Peterhansel

After a very difficult third day, worthy of the greatest Dakars, the fourth special seemed much easier to those who were still in the race. Because we must first return to the La Rioja-Fiambala stage, which saw the disappearance of a large number of competitors (42 abandonments or exclusions from the race, or more than a third of the starters). Among these, there are quite a few well-known French people, such as Jean-Luc Blanchemain, Isabelle Patissier, Pascal Thomasse and Ronan Chabot, as well as renowned drivers Nani Roma and Carlo De Gavardo. The torrid heat (nearly 45°) which reigned in the Fiambala region, as well as ??broken?? dunes are the cause of this massacre, caused mainly by overheating or rollovers.

Following this, the organizers decided to reduce the route of the fourth special, contested on Chilean soil in the Copiapo region, by 40 kilometers. “This special was relatively fast,” explained Stéphane Peterhansel. ?We first set off cautiously on a stony pass, because our tire pressures were low. But ultimately the sand announced at the end was supportive. As we opened the road, we had a few small hesitations in navigation, but nothing serious. Because of the off-road passages, I didn't think I would be in front of the Volkswagens, and I was quite surprised at the finish. »

Small explanation, on the Race Touareg side, their drivers had experienced some problems. Nasser Al Attiyah, victim of a slow puncture, stopped twice to re-inflate a tire, while Carlos Sainz admitted to having been a little lost.

But it was ultimately Robby Gordon who made the ??scratch??, with his Hummer. In the general classification, the American is far away, more than an hour from Peterhansel, but the terrain of the Atacama seems, as expected, to suit his ??Monster??.