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STAGE 8 : 453 km
LIAISON : TIWILIT / ELB JRAIK : 23 km
SPECIAL STAGE : ELB JRAIK / AZOUGUI : 425 km
BIVOUAC TRANSFER : 5 km
After a small morning liaison that will put the engines at the right temperature, the competitors will take a new track which will lead them to the well of the previous day with, consequently, once again the dunes will extend as far as the eye can see. This time the direction will be different and the dunes will also be larger and less entangled than the previous day. Most importantly, they will leave the dune cord quickly enough to then arrive in large sandy plains. A route that will climb the valleys by going around Akjoujt by the left and already used on the AFRICA ECO RACE®. Then there will be a rather bad part with very undulating and bumpy track on a kind of dike where it will be important to be careful to not do stupid things. A nice portion of navigation, including the rise of the magnificent pass of Azougui, will mark the end of this relatively tough stage.
Tuesday JANUARY 10th 2017
TIWILIT / AZOUGUI
Stage: 453km
LIAISON TIWILIT / ELB JRAIK: 23km
Special Stage ELB JRAIK / AZOUGUI: 425km
Transfert bivouac: 5km
THE BATTLE HAS STARTED IN MAURITANIA
This 8th stage between Tiwilit and Azougui did not show major difficulties. Yet a lot of things happened, leading to the modification of the temporary podiums, both in motorcycles and cars. More than ever this 9th edition is open and three days from the end, smart one is the one who will give the names of the winners Moto and Auto.
ULLEVALSETER, A REAL GENTLEMAN
Throughout his long career, Pal Anders ULLEVALSETER has always been a model of fairplay. He has just demonstrated it on this stage between Elb Jraik and Azougui long of 425 kilometers. Left in front this morning, the Norwegian was quickly caught up and then overtaken by Gev Sella. The young Israeli even counted a little more than 8 minutes ahead of his opponent. Unfortunately, at CP3, the KTM of SELLA stopped out of fuel. A real disaster for the leader of the event. But since the first edition of the AFRICA ECO RACE®, we no longer count the acts of solidarity between participants and even between opponents. That's the unique atmosphere of the AFRICA ECO RACE. Even today, the bikes category has not escaped to the rule since Pal Anders ULLEVALSETER stopped to give a hand to Gev SELLA. A gesture that the Norwegian commented on arrival: "I stopped naturally, as I always did to help a biker with a problem. I gave him a little bit of fuel. I could see in his eyes that he wanted more but it was not possible because I had to think of myself. He managed to finish, it's the main thing! The two time winner of the event is a real gentleman ! Following this incident, Gev SELLA, had to roll slowly to reach the finish, losing 13'23 on Pal Anders ULLEVALSETER who won his second consecutive special stage victory. Harite GABARI, which we had twice announced out of race yesterday by error as on the AFRICA ECO RACE this penalty arrives only after three uncommitted stages. The Moroccan got a magnificent 3rd place at 15'54 .
Again it took a long time to see the other two wheels arrive with Martin BENKO 4th at 47'46 , Jan ZATKO 5th at 55'21 and Stefano PELLONI 6th at 56'09 . Aleksandr MAKSIMOV with his Quad YAMAHA is still in the leading group with the Russian finished 7th at 56'09 .
Each day is bringing its share of bad news, it is today Paolo CECI that has not escaped to the rul. The Italian has indeed broken the clutch of his HONDA Africa Twin just before the CP1 and he will therefore return on a Balai Truck.
In the overall standings, Gev SELLA retains the leadership but he sees Pal Anders ULLEVALSETER is now back back at 36'24 . Not much to say when you look at what remains as a path to Dakar. For the third step of the podium, nothing is yet played between Martin BENKO, Stefano PELLONI and Jan ZATKO, separated by about thirty minutes.
SERRADORE, TWO YEARS LATER
Just two years ago, it was in Azougui, a nice little Mauritanian village planted in the heart of the dunes, that Mathieu SERRADORI won the first stage of his career in Cross-Country Rally at the wheel of a "small" Predator.
Since then, the French driver has obtained other successes with his SRT Buggy, notably in the 2016 FIA World Cup in two-wheels drive.
All agreed that this stage was magnificent for the view and for the navigation. However, it is a safe bet that Andrey KARGIMOV, at the wheel of his KAMAZ, did not have time to admire the landscapes since he finished in the 2nd time at 7'53 of the winner. The first of the truck ranks ahead of Patrick SIREYJOL's LCR30 Buggy by 40 seconds, finally solved the problems of power steering. Nice return to the leading pack for the two OPTIMUS buggies driven by Pascal THOMASSE and Guillaume GOMEZ, respectively 4th and 5th, but also for the Bugga One of Jean Antoine SABATIER, 6th, in front Remy VAUTHIER whose OPTIMUS was completely rebuilt in the night , And Miroslav ZAPLETAL still formidable at the wheel of his HUMMER.
Decidedly the course of the day was rather favorable to truckers since Sergey KUPRIANOV finishes 9th with his KAMAZ hybrid, 14 seconds before the TATRA of Jaroslav VALTR.
This Tuesday January 10th was not really the day for the 2nd overall of the general since after Paolo CECI on his motorcycle, it is Andrey CHEREDNIKOV who lost a lot today. Indeed, after having struck a Buggy seeking his way by slaloming in the dunes, the FORD RAPTOR remained immobilized for long minutes to repair the radiator pierced in the incident. In the end, more than a big hour lost and five places in the overall standings.
This kind of stage, which is a bit less difficult, also allows some competitors who had mechanical problems at some point to recover morally. This was the case today for Xavier LORMAND, 18th on the smallest Buggy in the pack plateau, Miklos KOVACS, 21st at the wheel of his magnificent SCANIA or Philippe BOUTRON, 22nd with the SODICARS. Buggy.
A word to finish on Thierry MAGNALDI. At the time we are writing the article, the whole
Two Wheels Drives team is on its way to Dakar. Indeed, yesterday, the second engine of the Buggy of Thierry MAGNALDI and François BORSOTTO also showed signs of weakness after the special stage, the decision not to continue the race was taken.
Regarding the general classification Auto / Truck, although this 11th place today with his MINI, Vladimir VASILYEV continues to lead the dance with 1h34'42 ahead of Pascal THOMASSE. A comfortable lead for the Russian because the French is under the direct threat of Andrey KARGINOV's Kamaz truck, 3rd at only 6'27 of the OPTIMUS.
This 2017 AFRICA ECO RACE is definitely more and more exciting and the next two days could still bring some twists, as was the case over the last two editions.
Wednesday, January 11, the 9th stage will lead the caravan of the AFRICA ECO RACE® to Akjoujt. Assistance vehicles will only have 200 kilometers to complete. On the other hand, for the competitors, the special stage long of 391 kilometers should be plenty of navigation and especially tricky due to the heat and the wind present at the moment in this region of Mauritania.
