The penultimate stage of the race was long and difficult, but also spectacular
Fenix Rally 2023 entered its penultimate day with a very long stage northern from the city of Douz. Despite some modification near the city, where the strong winds did not stop, the competitors tested the dunes near the famous Star Wars village, fast gravel tracks on the east part of Chott El Jerid and some mountain roads towards the finish.
In the car class, Rika Van Den Brink (Mitsubishi) was the man who set the best time in the stage. The pilot from Nederland finished with some 23 minutes advance to Tarvo Klaasimae from Estonia with his extreme prototype. Another “trophy” guy – Hardo Mere completed the daily podium. The pilots from the Baltic country are undisputed leaders in the overall, as Klaasimae has 36 minutes in front of Mere. Third in the general ranking is Van Den Brink, but 3 hours behind the fastest
Arunas Lekavicius (Can-AM) from Lithuania claimed the stage win in the SSV class. He finished 3:15 minutes in front of Eric Schiano from Niger (Polaris) and a minute and a half more to Maciej Stolarski (Can-Am). Stolarski is the new overall leader, as Dalius Olechnavicus (Can-Am) finished in 8th place, 19 minutes behind the leader and is with 10 minutes passive in the overall.
A walk in the park for Sebastien Tocaben (France, KTM) in the bike class, who claimed 5 minutes to Matthew Gird (South Africa, KTM). Tocaben is now 6 minutes in front of Gird, so the battle will be until the very end of Fenix Rally 2023.
In the quad class, Polaris Polska Racing Team saw a triple stage win. Rafal Jawien can not stop to be the fastest on the stages, this time with almost 12 minutes in front of Marcin Wilkolek. Third for the day was Ireneusz Ostafin. Jawien is undoubted leader in the overall, with a huge 1-hour advance to Gaetan Martinez from France (4th place for the day).
Finally, in the truck class, which is dominated by German drivers, Matthias Koerber (MAN) was with the best time. In the general standing leader is still Steffen Braun (Unimog), hours in front of his rivals.
The last stage of Fenix Rally 2023 will finally don’t have any modification, as the weather in the region now is good. The competitors will face 133 kilometers against the clock, after there will be known the new tittle-holders of the desert marathon.
Source RBI / Fenix Rally
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