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 | Africa Eco Race: Schlesser keeps the pace after SS04 crossing Erg Chegaga.
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The fourth stage of the Sonangol Africa Eco Race was far from being a walk in a park. The longest stage of the rally on Moroccan tracks crossed the "Erg Chegaga", famous for being a real trap for competitors.
For the Sonangol Schlesser Buggy, it was not the dunes but a flat tire that slowed the progress of the crew. Third place on the day’s stage and nearly 6 minutes ahead on overall classification, Jean-Louis Schlesser and Cyril Esquirol keep the advantage.
On the 414 km of the special stage between Mhamid and Icht, competitors had pleasure when crossing the Erg Chegaga and ran at full speed on the beautiful Lake Iriki chott. A varied and colorful day. For Team Schlesser, a flat tire costs probably the stage win to the "Desert Fox".
"We started ´slowly´ this morning. Jackie Loomans overtook us, but was stuck in the second dune. So we opened the track!" Schlesser said. "At the end of this section, we stopped a few minutes to check the tire pressures at the Passage Control."
"Jackie Loomans took the opportunity to regain the advantage and we followed him in his dust. Unfortunately, a little further, we had a puncture. Régis Delahaye took a chance and the stage win! It was a beautiful stage, one more. Now we will relax a little bit. We will only have 290 km of special stage."
Cyril Esquirol learns to appreciate a little more each day, his vision of the race from the right seat. "Another good day and a beautiful stage. I had a lot of apprehension in approaching the dunes but at the end, everything went remarkably well. The Sonangol Buggy Schlesser is just amazing!"
2012/01/02 | 11:11 CET | ARTICLE: MR/SY/SCHLESSER
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