SIlk Way Rally – Al-Attiyah wins second stage but loses time

In the second stage of the Silk Way Rally, competitors were led from Astrakhan to Elista on a route of 365,5 kilometers. But more than the distance, it was the regulations for the marathon stage that worried the caravan, because all outside assistance is prohibited on Sunday evening.

#silkwayrally Marathon stage: today drivers and co-drivers have to handle themselves… #noteam pic.twitter.com/2Yb68gT0la

— X-raid Team (@XraidTeam) July 22, 2018

Leaders after the first day, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel (Toyota) must precisely be mechanical. The rear differential of their Toyota Hilux 4×4 failed after only 125 terminals ! This did not prevent them from setting the best time of the day, even if they had to get their hands dirty on Sunday evening.

Stage2 #cars
Al-Attiyah tries to repair he's car#Silkwayrally2018 pic.twitter.com/aFIyO8toYa

— Silk Way Rally (@silkwayrally) July 22, 2018

“Tomorrow, we will have to limit the damage. If we lose six or ten minutes, it will be ok. But above all, the transmission must hold until the finish”, launched the Qatari pilot. Al-Attiyah-Baumel finally had another unpleasant surprise: a one-minute penalty for speeding on a section with a controlled pace! This is the reason why their advance on le Peugeot Harry Hunt's 3008DKR dropped to 3'34''.

The Mini clan has regained strength. One day after his puncture, Yazeed Al-Rajhi placed his 4×4 from the X-Raid team and recorded the second time just 1'34'' behind the leading Toyota. Sick the day before, Nani Roma resumed the race without any general objective but managed to set the fourth time.