FIA-FIM WORLD RALLY-RAID CHAMPIONSHIPS ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE — ROUND 2
- The driver from Lleida, along with his co-driver Jaume Betriu, has finished the second stage of the Emirati event in eighth place, which has allowed him to climb in the overall standings.
- Despite the fact that the Taurus T3 Max of the Nasser Racing structure still has some technical problems, the Pons Rallysport has been able to overcome and minimize damages.
- “We are doing our best to adapt to the circumstances, but we are still losing time due to mechanical issues. Yesterday it was engine temperature, today it was turbo pressure. It's frustrating because reliability is preventing us from showing our speed.”
Eduard Pons has come through a tough second stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, finishing eighth in the Challenger category. Despite the persistent problems in the ventilation system of the Taurus T3 Max of the Nasser Racing structure, Pons and his co-driver Jaume Betriu managed to manage the day with head to ensure a result that has allowed them to climb to seventh place in the overall standings, just over a minute behind the sixth.
The route of Monday's stage, starting and finishing in Mezaira'a, had a total of 302 kilometers, of which 228 were timed. The special stage featured significant dunes and large doses of sand. “Today was a very physical day, with dunes that made it a very demanding day both technically and in terms of endurance. Little by little, we are improving our pace in this type of terrain,” said Pons.
The team has found a partial solution to the high engine temperatures, which appeared in the first stage, by reducing the turbo pressure. However, this has limited the car's speed, which will remain a conditioning factor throughout the rally.
“We are doing our best to adapt to the circumstances, but we are still losing time due to mechanical issues. Yesterday it was engine temperature, today it was turbo pressure. It's frustrating because reliability is preventing us from showing our speed. We still have a lot of work ahead of us to be able to compete against the best,” he said.
Beyond the technical problems, the driver from Lleida has positively valued the learning accumulated in these first stages: “Every kilometer in the dunes is an opportunity to improve. We must continue to gain experience and, despite everything, we are making progress and gaining confidence. The good coordination with Jaume, who does an impeccable job of navigation, is also being key”.
This Tuesday, February 25, the first part of the marathon stage, one of the most demanding of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, will begin. The competitors will face a 388-kilometer route, with 237 kilometers against the clock, and will have to spend the night in the middle of the desert without mechanical assistance or support from their teams before starting the next day.
Automatic translation of the Spanish version
Source: Pons Rallysport / Mediagé Comunicación
