The real action has begun. After a short prologue in which Eduard Pons was unable to express the performance of the Taurus T3 Max of the Nasser Racing structure, due to engine power problems, this Saturday he faced the first stage, of 413 kilometers against the clock around Bisha, who has demonstrated that he is a candidate to be among the best in the Challenger category.
With Jaume following his lead, the Lleida driver, who started from 68th position as a result of the prologue result, found a good pace and reached 11th place in his class (55th overall). All this despite the technical setbacks that still drag Taurus down, even lighter than the previous day, and the sequelae of the flu that slightly weakened his physical state.
“The sensations are good; The car is getting better and it seems that, little by little, the problems with the engine are being solved. The fire has taken me a long way physically, but I'm recovering and every day I feel more energetic”, assures the Ilerdense.
The first stage, with very varied terrain, in which there is an abundance of vegetation, the sand and some rocky areas, has been very demanding, especially in terms of navigation. El Pons Rallysport has had to overcome the complexities of the trail on the ground, but it is also the added difficulty of racing between the octopus and helping several participants.
“It has been a more complicated journey than we expected. We have attached ourselves to several vehicles, but navigation has been very difficult and prevented us from being higher up. At two points along the route we found competitors lost in all directions and a lot of people, which caused us some loss of orientation, and we gave up a few minutes. It’s a shame, because we’re getting back on track, but the 11th finish isn’t bad at all”, comments the pilot.
He shows himself positive in the face of a race of pure resistance in which the fight for not letting go will be very intense: “I'm happy with the result. Our situation today was not easy and we knew how to maintain a good rhythm and be regular. We found ourselves at the doors of what would be the first threat; the second stage of the Dakar, but we will have a good exit position, because we face it with a lot of gains and strength”, says. With this mentality, the Lleida driver, a great expert in running with his head and knowing how to take advantage of any opportunity to advance positions, faces a rally that he has no choice but to start.
In the second stage, the dreaded 48 Hours Crono, which will be held between this Sunday the 5th and the 6th, the participants will be able to cover more than 1,000 kilometers without mechanical assistance, 967 of them timed. An important point in which the equipment must stop its vehicles until late at night and rest in one of the designated areas in the middle of the desert before resuming the march the following day.
Automatic translation of the Spansih version
Source: Pons Rallysport / Mediagé Comunicación
Disclaimer:
As a service to the sport we all love and follow, Rally-Raid Network posts numerous media releases from a wide variety of sources on our website. Due to the large number, and some times short time available, it is nearly impossible to review each public release. These articles are written by reporters or press officers who work for various organizers, teams, drivers, riders, and other parties, and they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rally-Raid Network.
