Morocco Rally, Stage 3: Chicherit sensation takes the lead

For their first rally-raid with a BRX Hunter, Guerlain Chicherit and Alex Winocq assert themselves as challengers for final victory by taking control of the Rallye du Maroc with two stages remaining. Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel win the special.

Published on 04/10/2022 à 16:05

⁰ View comments)

Morocco Rally, Stage 3: Chicherit sensation takes the lead

Guerlain Chicherit’s BRX Hunter T1+ is in good shape in Morocco. © DPPI / J. Delfosse

The third stage of Rally du Maroc 2022 was deciphered by the boss of the event, David Castera, as “the most difficult, with a lot of dunes at the beginning. It is the one that will require both pilots and navigators to be the most complete. » The versatility prize went this Tuesday, October 4 to the tandem of Toyota GAzoo Racing, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel.

The winners of the Dakar 2022, launched into a rescue operation the day after four punctures and 50 minutes lost, took advantage of their best starting position (10th) to showcase the power of the 4×4 powered by a twin-turbo V6. It was in the final portion, on technical tracks, that the Qatari driver made the difference, after 299 km of special.

In the general classification, however, Al-Attiyah-Baumel remain a good distance away. They come back to 27'37'' behind the leader, who is no longer Sébastien Loeb (BRX), but Guerlain Chicherit! The Frenchman took the advantage and became the third different leader of this penultimate round of the World Championship. rally-raid (W2RC) in as many steps.

Guerlain Chicherit, navigated by Alexandre Winocq, discovered in Morocco the driving of the 4×4 assembled by the English from the Prodrive team. While highlights cannot be ruled out, seeing the winners of the Silk Way Rally 2021 at such a party is a pleasant surprise, as they wanted to acclimatize to the BRX Hunter T1+, especially with a view to the 2023 Dakar in Saudi Arabia. .

Within the Bahrain Raid Xtreme team, you will have to be careful not to hurt the egos of each competitor. Indeed, if in terms of pure speed he does not play in the same category, the Argentinian Orlando Terranova passed his teammate Sébastien Loeb again this Tuesday. The latter is 3'50'' behind Chicherit-Winocq; Terranova-Haro are only 47'' from the leaders. Al-Attiyah-Baumel returns to the foot of the podium.

ALSO READ > Sébastien Loeb in the lead in Morocco but cautious: “Everything can turn around overnight”

Rallye du Maroc 2022 Special classification: