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Sertões 2024: TGR remains in control at Rally dos Sertoes after Stage 6
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s Lucas Moraes and co-driver Kaíque Bentivoglio demonstrated resilience and determination during the sixth stage of the 2024 Rally dos Sertões, maintaining their overall lead despite a challenging day on the course. The duo, racing in the Toyota GR DKR Hilux #323, finished just 18 seconds behind the stage winners, continuing to set a strong pace in their pursuit of a third championship in the competition.
Stage 6 took place on Thursday, 29 August, between the cities of Luís Eduardo Magalhães, in Bahia, and Formosa, in Goiás. The route covered a total of 634 km, including 218 km of timed special stages along rural mountain roads and hazardous stretches filled with sharp bends that tested both the drivers and navigators.
Starting in first position after securing three stage victories, including two in the marathon stage, Lucas and Kaíque faced the inherent challenges of leading the field. The duo encountered navigational difficulties early in the stage due to an unclear roadbook, which caused them to briefly lose their way.
Despite the setback, the duo quickly regained their composure, recovering lost time in the latter part of the special stage. Lucas and Kaíque finished the stage with a time of 3h 15m 19s, just 18 seconds behind the stage winners, Marcelo Gastaldi and Cadu Sachs. The result allowed them to maintain their overall lead, now standing at 18h 17m 11s, with a margin of 13 minutes and 14 seconds over their closest rivals, Gastaldi and Sachs.
The Rally dos Sertões enters its penultimate day of competition on Friday, with a 497 km route that includes 349 km against the clock. The race will continue in Formosa, where competitors will face a mix of fast sections, technical turns, and navigational challenges. The final stage will take place on Saturday, as the competitors make their way from Formosa to the rally’s conclusion in Brasília, DF, where the overall winners will be determined.
With a solid lead, Lucas Moraes and Kaíque Bentivoglio are focused on maintaining their advantage and securing a third title in the prestigious Rally dos Sertões.
Lucas Moraes: " Our spreadsheet was missing some information. There was a left-hand bend that was followed by a straight ‘leg’ just after it, but our spreadsheet didn’t show the straight. As we were the first car, we had no reference for the track or the dust, so we lost a bit of time at the start. Other than that, we had a good day; the car was great; and we remain in the lead of the rally."
Source: Toyota
Helder