A non-stop line of 280 kilometers, the third leg of the OiLybia Rally of Morocco was a showcase for speed, and pleasure. They were several passes to cross then the Maharch pass to find. On wet and sometimes muddy tracks, following heavy overnight rain, the co pilots had a double task: not to get lost and, above all, avoid the many difficulties on the slopes leading to ultrafast Fort Zguilma. If among the leaders, everyone has managed to keep up without incident, some have exceeded their limits, however. Fortunately more fear than harm…
MARC COMA in a state!
Last night he was penalized thirty minutes for having missed a way point, Marc Coma (KTM 450 No1) official KTM rider thus started in sixth place on this special. The quadruple world champion just fired ahead, and was rewarded with his first stage victory on the Moroccan Rally 2010. The Portuguese Paulo Gonçalves (BMW G450RR Speedbrain / Vodaphone No. 11) had an excellent second time just ahead of his Dutch teammate Frans Verhoeven (BMW G450RR Speedbrain No. 9). Cyril Despres (KTM 450 Red Bull No. 2) lost his course indicator after only 100 meters he then followed Portuguese Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha 450 Red Bull No. 8) who conceded time, but nevertheless confirms his second place overall ahead of teammate Olivier Pain (Yamaha YZF 450 No. 6).
As for quads, the Nomad Racing Team went on the attack again today. After Pascal Delesque’s (Polaris No. 103) victory yesterday it was Frank Alard’s turn to take the lead (HM No. 104) in front of Bulgarian Petar Cenkov (Can-Am No 100).
FREE RIDE FOR CHICHERIT
With more than a half an hour lead over teammate Russian Leonid Novitsky in the overall, Stéphane Peterhansel (BMW X3 No. 300) spent most of this third stage of the OilIybia Rally of Morocco in the company of another BMW X3 team : Guerlain Chicherit and Michel Perin. Leaving the initiative to the quadruple free ride ski world champion, Peterhansel and Cottret just followed the tracks … So, Chicherit delayed the first day because of turbo trouble gave himself t his first victory and back into the top 10 overall. Novitsky clings to his second place overall, while the Polish Holowczyc, former European rally champion, accompanied by Belgian Fortin (BMW X3 No. 304) consolidate their third place, despite some spectacular lift offs !. First behind the BMW armada, Jean-Luc and Jean Brucy Blanchemain (Buggy Optimus No. 305) were able to contain Patrick Sireyjol’s(Bowler Wildcat No. 313) onslaught, after yesterdays troubles in the Chegaga dunes. Jerome Pélichet Decré and Eugenie (Springbok MD No. 311), always clinging to their 4th place overall, Pascal Thomas and Alex Winocq (Buggy Optimus MD No. 303) and the Chilean Boris Garafulic (Nissan Pickup Overdrive No. 307) complete the top 10 of the day. The Russian rally driver Mikhail Lepekhov (Mitsubishi MPR10 No. 325) probably pulled off the most spectacular stunt of the day. Trying at all costs to overtake a quad, 500 meters from the finish line, he literally flew over a bump, overturned three times and luckily landed on the wheels. The Mitsubishi Pajero MPR10 (ex factory) will probably find it difficult to continue this great adventure … Another “roller” involving the Frenchmen Pascal Bourgeois and Dominique Gibon (GTR Renovatio buggy) on the trail to Fort Zguilma. Fortunately, more fear than harm for the team who were quickly supported by the medical team.
In the T2 category, reserved for production cars, the Russian Kuznetshov (Mitsubishi No. 321) still leads the ball ahead of the Frenchman Jean-François Perez (Toyota No. 330) and Daniel Dominguez (Mitsubishi No. 333).
KOVACS IN THE ROPES
Queen of the Chegaga dunes yesterday, Elisabete Jacinto accompanied by Belgian Charly Gotlib and his compatriot Marco in their blue MAN are confident and prepared for tomorrow’s Chegaga tracks…. their biggest rival, the Hungarian Kovacs (Scania Qualisport No. 401), suffered a broken transfer case, thus conceded more than two hours and could even be forced to withdraw if the Qualisport team mechanics could not fix this major problem.
INTERVIEWS
BIKES
Marc Coma (Spa / KTM 450 # 1): “I was very disappointed with the penalty I was inflicted yesterday I missed a waypoint by ten meters. But hey, those are the rules. Today I was able to concentrate on the driving, since the tracks were very visible and I left in sixth position. ”
Paulo Goncalves (Por / BMW G450RR No. 11): “Finally, a problem-free special. I left just behind Marc Coma, happy to achieve something good today. I am very pleased to offer this result to the BMW team Speedbrain Vodaphone. ”
Cyril Despres (Fra / KTM 450): “a hundred meters after the starting bloc, I lost my course. Furthermore, with the rain, I couldn’t see through my glasses. I decided on following Helder Rodrigues. After the heat of the first day, the dunes yesterday, we had mud today. Great testing grounds for our new KTM 450. ”
Helder Rodrigues (Por / Yamaha 450 WRF No. 8): “Tough day but instructive for me since I opened up the entire special in front of Despres. It’s a great exercise in preparation for the Dakar … Apart from that, I am very satisfied with the Moroccan Rally… ”
Olivier Pain(Fra / Yamaha 450 No. 6): “We started in the rain, it was amazing. I had to focus on the driving so as not to make mistakes. The gas sattion problems have been resolved and my Yamaha YZF is working perfectly. ”
Jordi Viladoms (ESP / Yamaha 450 No. 5): “. Every day we test something different on the bike, getting it prepared for the Dakar. ”
Jakub Przygonski (Pol / KTM 690 No. 3): “Apart from the temperature, we could have been in Poland today. It was fast, but not enough to make a difference with the 450cc. ”
Franck Cornille (Fra / Yamaha 450 No. 22): “After a tough day yesterday because of a tummy bug, the fun was back this morning. However, I was faced with a fuel leak at the finish. ”
Delesque Pascal (Fra / Polaris Quad No. 103): “This terrain suits me much better than the dunes. This is only my first African rally and I still have a little trouble with the keeping on course … ”
Petar Cenkov (Bul / Quad Can-Am No 100): “So I came out better than yesterday where I took an hour and a half penalty for completing the first lap out of time. In the dunes it was hell with the 300 kilos of my machine. My only competitor is myself! ”
Bogdan Rostowksi (Pol / KTM Quad No. 101): “After 4 years on the European circuit, I come to the African rallies for the first time, I am only nineteen! I lost a wheel today at 10 km from the finish line. Took me 20 minutes to repair it, I’m loving It though, Every day gets better. ”
Eric Vial (FRA / Yamaha Quad No. 215): “I like the fast specials. After several raids with friends in Morocco, I took a leap by registering on the Moroccan Rally, Physically it’s hard, but I’m learning every day … ”
CARS
Guerlain Chicherit (Fra / BMW X3 No. 302): “Nice and fast leg today. We overtook Stéphane midway, and then we rode together to the finish. The stage win is a pleasure, even if now we are concentrating with Michel on teamwork in the cockpit so as to refine our reflexes … ”
Leonid Novitsky (Rus / BMW X3 No. 301): “A very fast special. We experienced three scary bits, but on arrival, the result is excellent. ”
Stephane Peterhansel (Fra / BMW X3 No. 300): “A very nice special. With the rain last night, it was possible to follow Guerlain in the second half of the stage without eating his dust. We are now going to hold back slightly and proceed to other tests, as this car will be in the next Dakar and we don’t want to damage it … ”
Holowzcyc Krzysztof (Pol / BMW X3 No. 304): “I found this leg a bit long at times. This made me think those runs in Mauritania. But it was another good test for us, even if we went flying a few times … ”
Jean-Marie Davoy (Fra / MD Rallye Sport Buggy No. 308): “A puncture after km 30 from then on we drove on eggshells because we had no spare wheels. ”
Patrick Sireyjol (Fra / Bowler Wildcat Cummins No. 313): “we almost gave up yesterday with a broken rear axle, today was another day, a few thrill along the way, but happy with the result ”
Pélichet Jerome (Fra / Springbok MD Rallye Sport No. 311): “We’re in 4th place with both Bowlers behind us. We’re keeping an eye on them. It was a good race. ”
Pascal Thomas (Fra / Buggy Optimus MD No. 303): “No easy ride in the rain and mud without the windshield. Over long stretches our buggy Optimus lacks power … ”
Lepekhov Mikhail (Rus / Mitsubishi MPR10 No. 325): “We were behind this quad. I wanted to overtake, I had a clear 500 meters and the then car went into a front roll. It’s my entire fault. I was too nervous … ”
TRUCKS
Elisabete Jacinto (Por / MAN No. 400): “It was another perfect leg for us. Not the slightest concern I am even a little less apprehensive to return to the dunes tomorrow because it went well during yesterday’s stage … ”
Miklos Kovacs (Hon / Scania No. 401): “Everything was going really well early on in the stage when, suddenly, our transfer case broke. Without traction to the front wheels of the truck, we were slow three-quarters of the special. Too bad, but I think we’ve had it, it’s all over for us since we do not have the parts to repair … ”
– Credit: Rally OiLybia of Morocco.