FIA-FIM WORLD RALLY-RAID CHAMPIONSHIPS ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE — ROUND 2
Old Friends Rally Team duo maintain World Championship lead
Alexandre Pinto and Bernardo Oliveira once again had a day of great overcoming at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the second round of the World Rally Raid Championship. The turbo of their Can-Am Maverick once again failed to cooperate during the second stage of 228 timed kilometers around Mezeer' Ah and the lack of power once again affected the progress of the duo entered by the Old Friends Rally Team, which carries the number 401, leader of the World Championship in the SSV category.
“It was a difficult day once again. The mechanics worked on the car all night and didn't finish until five in the morning. I would like to thank them and the Old Friends Rally Team for their commitment and for doing everything they could to ensure that our Can-Am was at 100% today. Unfortunately, the turbo problem recurred. There were two hundred or so kilometers of rolling dunes with little power. It was a sacrifice trying to get the car to the end, but that's how racing is. Tomorrow we have the first stage of the marathon. There will be no room for any kind of external assistance. I think we've identified what happened. There's no need to give up. The focus remains the same: we want to finish the race and collect as many points as possible for the Championship. Let's see how it goes from here,” said Alexandre Pinto at the bivouac of this 34th edition of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, which is located in Mezeer' Ah.
The third stage of this competition will cover 237 timed kilometers between Mezeer' Ah and the marathon stage camp in Al Qua'a. Located in the remote eastern region of Abu Dhabi, Al Qua'a holds the title of the darkest place in the United Arab Emirates. Surrounded by endless red dunes, the drivers will make the necessary repairs at the camp in the middle of the desert.
Automatic translation of the Portuguese version
Source: Alexandre Pinto_A2 Comunicacão
