Eduard Pons and Jaume Betriu completed the challenging 48-hour clock with a remarkable remount that took them from 21st to 13th in the stage classification, and to 12th in the Challenger general. After the numerous setbacks suffered in the first half, the Irish duo managed to complete, in 14 hours, almost 1,000 kilometers against the schedule of this demanding Dakar 2025 fire test.
The second stage took place very quickly, placing it among the first six. However, around kilometer 230, a problem with the engine of the Taurus T3 Max of the Nasser Racing structure forced me to spend more than an hour to repair it. Later, the brakes started to fail and left the equipment with the complicated task of solving the problems without mechanical assistance and only with their own means in camp “B”, where it happened at night.
“The schedule has been very tough. There we started very well until we lost engine water and had to use safety water and our hydration backpacks to solve it. Luego, we started losing brake fluid, a problem that dragged us to the camp,” reports Pons. That's why Betriu has faced this second bout with the flu, which has added an extra physical challenge to the team.
This month's task consisted of completing the remaining 446 kilometers from rest zone “B”. With varied terrains such as dirt tracks, arenas and dunes, as well as an important navigation method, the team has known how to maintain a solid rhythm while taking care of the vehicle's mechanics, to overcome this difficult stage and stay alive in the fight.
“This morning we got off as best we could with all these conditions. We had to go after slower coaches, but we defended ourselves well. We are satisfied with the pace we can have when the car responds. Now, the mechanics and engineers are working to get the Taurus to a point and we hope to recover strength for the next journeys. This time has been especially demanding, without just a moment of breathing, and we are all exhausted physically and mentally”, assures the pilot.
Even though now the distance to the first Challenger is considerable, the Dakar is a race of survival where everything can change at any moment. There were still many days of competition and the strategy will be key.
After this complicated challenge, tomorrow morning, day 7, the participants will leave behind Bisha and ponder towards Al-Henakiyah in the third stage, very technical and fast, with a total of 761 kilometers, 327 of them timed.
Automatic translation of the Spanish version
Source: Pons Rallysport / Mediagé Comunicación
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