Fenix Rally 2022: Leg 4 - May the Force be with you!

The longest day of the race was stormy – in many terms

The 4th racing day of Fenix Rally 2022 was the longest of this year’s itinerary. The competitors faced two special stages with total distance of the route of 457 km, 253 of which – against the clock. The first special stage of 160 km touched one of the most famous places in Tunisia: the location of episode IV of Star Wars located between Tozeur and Nefta. The territory around Kibili was the protagonist of the daily second special stage of 93 km. The sandy tracks and dirt roads were the playing field of this amazing day.
Urvo Mannama (#221) took his second consecutive stage win (and a total of three so far) in the Car Open class. The Estonian pilot and his bolide Century CR6 arrived at the finish with 5:40 minutes advance of Rients Hofstra (Nissan Navara Proto, #218). Third for the day was another Dutchman – Rick Van Den Brink (#224, Mitsubishi ASX).
The daily triumph helped Mannama to gain control in the overall standings, where he is now 4:51 min in front of Hofstra. Third place in the general ranking is for Joel Purga from Estonia (#237, Mulkland Mos1), who managed to complete the day in 5th place.
In the Car Limited class*, Daniel Vetter (#211, Toyota Land Cruiser) from Switzerland took command on the rankings, after finished fastest in the Star Wars stages.
The situation in the most crowded class – those of the SSV machines, remains under control. First place for the day for Arunas Lekavicus (#412, Can-Am) and second for his fellow countryman from Lithuania Tomas Guzaukas (#430, Can-Am). Third on the finish was Benoit Lepietre (#414, Can Am), but it was enough for the Frenchman to keep the leadership in the general rankings.
Actually, there are not changes in top 3 after Leg 4 of Fenix Rally 2022, as the second place is still owned by Macej Stolarski from Poland (#437, Can Am), and the third is for sits Tomas Mickus (Can-Am, #420) from Lithuania. The two pilots made it on the day in 6th and 5th place respectively.

Moving to the bikes, the fastest rider in the longest leg of Fenix 2022 was Modestas Siliunas (#23, KTM). The Lithuanian rider had also bonus for medical help to another competitor during the race and at the end finished with some 3 minutes advance to Matthew Grid (KTM, #7). Third for the day was another pilot from Lithuania – Justas Grendelis (#20, KTM).
The South African rider Mathew Grid is still leader in the overall standings, with comfortable 20 minutes advance to now second-placed Grendelis. Top 3 is complete by day Mickael Jacobi (#30, Gas Gas), as the Frenchman med it to the 6th place during the day.
In the ATV class, Leg 4 of Fenix Rally was dominated by our “Patronelli brothers” – the French riders Gaetan (#14) and Nicolas Martinez (#16). They crossed the finish with a difference from 6 minutes, followed by Antanas Kanopkinas (#33), some 10 minutes behind the winner.
The third place of the Lithuanian pilot from CFMOTO Racing team was enough to him to dethrone his compatriot and teammate Adomas Gancierus (#2) from the overall leadership. Now, the two pilots are separated by 2 minutes in the rankings and the 3rd place belongs still to Nicolas Martinez, almost 4 minutes behind the leader.
Last but not least, it was very interesting in the truck class. Aad Van Velsen (Scania, #507), was the fastest this day.
The Dutch driver also had to help his countryman and main rival William Van Groningen (#505) at the end of the first timed section, when the green Iveco felt after descending a dune. Fortunately there were no hurts and damages, and Van Groningen successfully finished the stage on second place. Third for the day was another pilot from Netherlands – Alexander Koot (#506) with DAF.
Despite his misfortune, William Van Groningen is still leader in the overall, with huge almost 5 hours advance of (now second) Van Velsen. Third place in the general rankings belongs to Klaas Steinhoefel (#503) from Germany with MAN KAT.
Leg 5 of Fenix Rally 2022 is also victim of the bad weather and the powerful winds in the region. The organization had to modify the route and the competitors will drive only the second part of the leg. Moreover, the winds and sandstorm heavily damaged the last camp in Ksar Ghilane, so the caravan will not move there and stays in Douz.

Source Fenix Rally