Rally of Morocco: Peterhansel widens the gap

Today's stage included a 184 km loop to be completed twice, in very varied terrain, including several dune crossings, "off-piste", as well as not easy navigation. “It was a great stage, really selective,” explained Peterhansel, who achieved almost the same time during the two loops: 2h12?? in the first round, and 51:2:11?? to the second. “Even though we knew better the second time, the slopes were rougher. But that?s very good, because we are mainly here to test the car as much as possible. This morning, we left with three spare wheels, and a good full tank. We are mainly here to test the car, and validate the latest modifications. »

Victim of a navigation error in preparation for the finish costing him almost twenty minutes, the Russian Novitskiy was already dropped in the first round. He ??assured?? then and finished the stage 47 minutes behind Peterhansel. Behind, the gaps were enormous, the third of the stage, the unexpected Jean-Marie Davoy conceding 1h40. In the general classification, the Sarthois, who drives an MD Sport buggy with a V8 engine, is more than three hours away, ahead of François Lethier, the driver of the Schlesser buggy.

For many amateurs, the dunes of Erg Chegaga proved formidable, and some, like Jean-Noël Julien or Vandromme, lost a lot of time there, even if the mechanics suffered little. But was this stage really as difficult as some of the Dakar?