The Kuprianov tandem breaks Dominique Laure's series on the Africa Eco Race

Dominique Laure will have (provisionally) stopped at “4 in a row” on the 2019 edition of the Africa Eco Race. The driver of the Optimus MD, winner of the first four Moroccan specials, saw the Russian Sergey Kuprianov (Optimus MD) came to steal the show when he arrived in Dakhla, the end of the fifth stage yesterday.

Best time in 3h45'50 after 420 km against the clock, Kuprianov is 36″ ahead of Patrick Martin (Mercedes) and 1’48” Jean-Noël Julien (Optimus MD). David Gerard (Optimus MD) and Dominique Laure (Optimus MD) complete the top 5 at 2'46" and 4'09" ahead of Jean-Pierre Strugo (Optimus MD) and the first truck of Elisabete Jacinto.

Overall, however, Laure remains a solid leader of the event, with a 22′ lead over Strugo, Jean-Noël Julien having for his part taken third place from Yves Fromont (Buggy), only eighth yesterday.

This Sunday, the competitors will have a day of rest before heading tomorrow to Mauritania and Chamli, with a short special of 176 km and a mainly sandy course, with some navigation of some importance. Tuesday will see the crews take the start of the highly anticipated marathon stage.