AFRICA RACE 2022 - STAGE #2 : BOUSAID / TAGOUNITE

THE AFRICA ECO RACE HAS SERIOUSLY BEGAN

The majority of the competitors had returned to the bivouac of Bousaïd yesterday evening at 9 pm to attend the daily briefing of the AFRICA ECO RACE. An explanation of the stage of this Wednesday, October 19 to Tagounite during which Manfred KROISS mentioned the presence of the first dunes and the difficulty of navigation. The Sporting Director was not mistaken since important gaps are already to be noted between the first and their pursuers, and this, on two and four wheels.

Victory of BOTTURI in Motorcycle

Starting in 4th position this morning, Alessandro BOTTURI won by taking his marks on his official Yamaha. The Italian is ahead of the KTM of the Slovak Stefan SVITKO of 00:01:34 and of 00:02:00 the HUSQVARNA of the French Xavier FLICK who confirms his excellent beginning of the Rally. Arrived in the same group of six pilots who preceded the other participants by more than one hour, the Italian Maurizio GERINI finished 4th at the handlebar of his HUSQVARNA at 00:03:56 after having known problems of fork. 

He did well and was ten minutes ahead of the KTM of Pal Anders ULLVALSETER who said at the finish line that at the age of 53, it is appropriate to ride relaxed. The Norwegian was accompanied at the finish line by the British rider Robbie WALLACE, also on a KTM, who also made a good start to the race. In the category more than 700, the Spanish Pol TARRES places his YAMAHA at the 11th position while the only Quad of the race driven by the Czech Zdenek TUMA is classified 18th. Special mention for the Italian rider Francesca GASPERI who finished 14th on her HONDA.

In the general standings, Stefan SVITKO leads the way with a little more than a minute's lead over Maurizio GERINI and a little more than 5 minutes over Alessandro BOTTURI. With a 4th place in the general standings, only 6 seconds behind BOTTURI, Xavier FLICK is the undisputed leader of the MOTUL EXTREME RIDER category reserved for unassisted drivers.

Second consecutive victory for David GERARD and Pascal DELACOUR in car

In Car, we take the same people and we start again for the two first places, with the victory of David GERARD and Pascal DELACOUR, 00:10:41 in front of Philippe GOSSELIN and Christophe CRESPO. The noticed success of the day went to the CANAM of Loïc FREBOURG and Franck BOULAY, 3rd at 00:21:33. As on two wheels, behind, the gaps are important since after Imre VARGA and Jozsef TOMA, 4th at 00:37:03, the fifth vehicle to pass the finish was clocked at 01:08:31. It is the CAN AM of Jean HAYECK DAGHER and Patrick ANTONIOLLI, the Senegalese crew that had already shone yesterday.

In the truck category, the battle of the TATRAs turned to the advantage of Tomas TOMECEK for a little more than 7 minutes on the British crew composed of Andrew WICKLOW, Joseph PEAKE and Matthew Quinton EVANS.

In the general ranking, David GERARD and Pascal DELACOUR already have a lead of just over 13 minutes over Philippe GOSSELIN and Christophe CRESPO. In 3rd position, we find the SSV of Loïc FREBOURG and Franck BOULAY, also leader of the T3 ranking with more than one hour of advance.

Tomorrow, Thursday, October 20, the AFRICA ECO RACE will continue its progression towards the south with a 3rd stage of 526 kilometers between Tagounite and Assa. A long special whose main part will be the crossing of the Erg of Chegaga.