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Orpi Maroc 2006 Special-Newssection
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This is the single-news section of the
marathonrally.com rally-live special of the Orpi Maroc rally 2006.
To see all news please use the link under the article or navigate
with the left main-navigation.
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Orpi Maroc: De Villiers and Coma take the Lead in Marocco
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The Rally Orpi Maroc marked today a first victory for former Rally World Champion Carlos Sainz (VW Race Touareg II). The race is at mid-course and the Volkswagens have been playing their hand perfectly. Sainz moves up to second place overall behind team-mate de Villiers who continues to lead the cars. On two wheels today's stage back to Erfoud was won by Esteve Pujol (KTM Gauloises), but it's Marc Coma (KTM Repsol) who tops the overall results before tomorrow's plunge full South through the Draa valley down to Zagora.
This third stage of the Rally Orpi Maroc was a return back to Erfoud comprising two specials for a total 247kms' race against time. More physical than on the way up to Ain Beni Mathar, the stage gave Carlos Sainz his first victory - but this only became apparent at the very end of the second special, as after having left this morning with the bit between his teeth the Spanish ‘Matador’ lost a fair amount of time in the first special in the dust left behind Peterhansel (Mitsubishi Pajero), making a slower first special than fellow-countryman ‘Nani’ Roma (Mitsubishi Pajero).
The man from Madrid seizes for one tiny second's advantage the second place on the overall results and gives Volkswagen a third victory in a row. He is 7 minutes behind his team-mate Giniel de Villiers, still ahead of all the cars. On a terrain probably less suited to his Mitsubishi Pajero and his route-finding skills, Stephane Peterhansel is third today and seems to be waiting for better days and 'rougher' stages with potential opportunities for those ambushes he so excels at.
As for his team-mates Roma and Masuoka, both were left well behind with their share of punctures. Jean-Louis Schlesser (Ford buggy) also had a bad day - he lost 2 minutes in the first special, was first at the passage control of the 2nd special but then lost all the precious time he'd battled for in the twisting and winding end of the stage for which his 'blue scarab' was too ill suited. He keeps his 4th place overall but the man who's scored so many victories in Morocco is starting to feel Roma breathing down his neck.
Making a better time for this stage than Carlos Sousa (VW Race Touareg II), who had a puncture and a stomach upset, Russian Sergey Shmakov (Zil buggy) did a good stage again (7th) and overall is just behind the Portuguese. Philippe Gache (SMG buggy) put aside yesterday's mishap (broken engine + 6-hour penalty) and overtook 15 competitors, arriving 8th at the finish just in front of Brazilian Paulo Nobre in his BMW X5.
In the T2 category, reserved for production vehicles, victory was for Pascal Thomasse (Mercedes ML). Despite braking a shock absorber bracket 15kms on into the 2nd special Christian Lavieille (Nissan Pathfinder) retains a strong lead, over 15 minutes ahead of mentor and occasional Nissan Dessoude team-mate Thomas Loussier (Nissan Pathfinder). In the trucks, the fight between Tomas Tomecek and Ales Loparis' two Tatras rages on, with the former a mere 6 minutes ahead of the son of the former 'Dakar' record breaker.
In the motorcycles Isidre Esteve (KTM Gauloises) had his first victory after two difficult days. He is ahead of fellow-Spaniard and former team-mate Marc Coma (KTM Repsol), still overall leader. The big Catalan who won the last 'Dakar' is now 7'21" ahead of Cyril Despres (KTM Gauloises), 3rd today ahead of team-mate David Casteu whose dashboard fell off in the race. Just behind Chris Blais (KTM Red Bull), from the US, who came to Morocco for new desert racing experiences, is amazing ‘rookie’ Francisco Lopez.
This Rally Orpi Maroc's revelation easily leads the 450cc category with ‘Chaleco’, his Honda 450, in front of Portuguese Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha), and Italian Oscar Polli and Franco-Urugayan Laurent Lazard's KTMs. Lopez confirms his position as 4th overall. On his side, Christophe Declerck (Yamaha Raptor 700), 15th of the stage, decided to launch the charge and grabs the overall lead in the quads ahead of Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris Outlaw) who had a puncture in the second special.
2006/06/03 I 12:22 CET I Article: NPO Press
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