In motorcycling, we take the same three and start again. This time, the battle between Jacopo CERUTTI’s APRILIA and the two YAMAHAs of Pol TARRES and Alessandro BOTTURI favored the latter. The Italian won with a lead of 00:01:57 over his teammate and 00:03:57 over CERUTTI. In other words, the three riders crossed the finish line together for the third time. Therefore, It is impossible to separate them in Morocco because CERRUTI, leader since day one, has 00:03:15 over BOTTURI and a further 30 seconds over TARRES. This situation could quickly change in Mauritania, as the terrain will be so selective. Behind, on his KTM, Swiss rider Alexandre VAUDAN has put things right, after his navigation error yesterday. He finished 4th, just 00:10:50 behind the winner, ahead of the APRILIA of Italian Francesco MONTANARI by 00:14:46 and Frenchman Atilio FERT on a KTM by 00:15:46. In the MOTUL XTREME RIDER class, the victory of the day went to the likable French rider Nicolas BOTTU on KTM, while Italian Stefano CHIUSSI extended his lead over Frenchman Antoine DETOURBET, both on HUSQVARNA.

On four wheels, Belgian rider Koen WAUTERS had promised this morning to give his all to win, as this 5th stage of the AFRICA ECO RACE was the end of the road for him. This competitor is also a successful singer in Belgium and the Netherlands, and he began a series of concerts on January 11th. He therefore had to return to Belgium for two days of rehearsals. Koen WAUTERS kept his word: at the wheel of his TOYOTA Pick-Up, perfectly navigated by Kris VEN DER STEEN, he won with a lead of 00:02:46 over the Hungarians Imre VARGA and Jozsef TOMA, also on a TOYOTA. In 3rd place, we find the first SSV with the CAN-AM of Carlos VENTO and Carlos RUIZ MORENO, still more than 8 minutes and 13 seconds ahead of Pierre-Louis LOUBET and François BORSOTTO. A logical gap on this type of terrain favors speed since SSVs are limited to a maximum of 130 km/h, while cars can reach 170 km/h. 3rd place overall went to the TOYOTA of Belgian drivers Pascal FEYRIN and Kurt KEYSERS, while the 3rd place SSV was the CAN AM of Portuguese drivers Ricardo SOUSA and Jorge BRANDAO. The 3rd car of the day was the TOYOTA of Dutchmen Teun STAM and Rene BRARGEMAN, who were also 1st in T1 Diesel. In the provisional overall standings, Frenchmen Gautier PAULIN and Remi BOULANGER are leading the race in their APACHE with a lead of 02:09:39 over the POLARIS of their compatriots Frédéric HENRICY and Eric BERSEY, while Carlos VENTO and Carlos RUIZ MORENO are at 02:36:01.

In the Classic race, after the day’s 4 Regularity Zones of 30 km, 31 km, 40 km, and 51 km respectively, leaving Morocco with 15 ZRs completed, Belgians Eric and Tom CLAEYS are in the lead in their TOYOTA Land Cruiser BJ73. They are ahead of their compatriot Rene DECLERCQ and John DEMEESTER in a BOMBARDIER Iltis, while the MITSUBISHI PAJERO of Austrian Peter BRABECK-LETMATHE and Frenchman Jean-Michel GAYTE is in 3rd place. But the rankings are very tight, with crews fighting it out with a score of zero points and no less than 12 ZRs left on the very complicated Mauritanian terrain to make the difference. So nothing is decided yet!

Today the participants in this 15th edition of the AFRICA ECO RACE will be able to recharge their batteries and overhaul their vehicles at the Dakhla bivouac set up on the edge of the lagoon. A much-needed break before the second week of the race in Mauritania.

STAGE 5 RESULTS BIKES

1. Alessandro Botturi03:31:53 
2. Pol Tarres +00:01:57
3. Jacopo Cerutti +00:03:57
4. Alexandre Vaudan +00:10:50
5. Andrea Gava +00:14:24 

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION BIKES

1. Jacopo Cerutti20:23:59 
2. Alessandro Botturi +00:04:15
3. Pol Tarres +00:04:45
4. Guillaume Borne +02:14:02
5. Giovanni Gritti +02:16:13 

STAGE 5 RESULTS CARS-TRUCKS

1. Koen Wauters03:31:53 
2. Imre Varga +00:02:46
3. Carlos Vento +00:08:08
4. Pierre Louis Loubet +00:08:21
5. Ricardo Sousa +00:11:21

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION CARS/TRUCKS

1. Gautier Paulin22:16:11 
2. Frederic Henricy +02:09:39
3. Carlos Vento +02:33:01
4. Heatclif Zingraf +03:14:54
5. Pascal Feryn +03:47:07

Text, Photo & Video Credits: Africa ECO Race 

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Finishing 3rd yesterday at 00:02:18, Jacopo CERUTTI remains leader of the bike classification onboard his APRILIA Touareg 660 at 00:06:20.

The Italian had managed to hold onto the lead until the halfway point of the race but was caught out by a small navigation error. It took more than 30 minutes for the first 450s to arrive, including the HONDA of Italian Giovanni GRITTI, the KTM of Swiss rider Alexandre VAUDAN, and the HUSQVARNA of Guillaume BORNE. All three, separated by less than two minutes, are entered in the ROOKIE RIDER BY ACERBIS, which rewards the best riders under 35 who have never taken part in a major off-road rally. Last but not least, Italian Andrea GAVA put in a great performance, setting a magnificent 7th fastest time on his BETA from 33rd position.

In the Car/SSV/Truck category, it was once again an APACHE SSV that won this 3rd stage. This time, it was the car of Gautier PAULIN and Remi BOULANGER, ahead of the CAM AM of Heathcliff ZINGRAF and Gregory REVEST for 00:01:17 and the POLARIS of Éric SCHIANO and Camille POURCHIER, who recovered well from their problems at the start of the event.

Overall, the former Motocross champion maintains his lead on four wheels with a lead of just 00:03:35 over ZINGRAF. The battle rages on, with the POLARIS of Frédéric HENRICY and Éric BERSEY trailing behind at 01:17:23.

As for the cars, the TOYOTA of Belgian drivers Pascal FERYN and Kurt KEYSERS finished 9th overall at 01:14:45, ahead of the other 4X4 of the FERYN DAKAR TEAM of Koen WAUTERS and Kris VEN DER STEEN at just under 15 minutes. In the provisional general standings, FEYRIN leads the category ahead of WAUTERS.

In the truck category, the Czech Tomas TOMECEK finished 11th in this 3rd special stage and remains the leader of the desert mammoths.

In the Classic race, after this second stage, Yves LOUBET, the event’s Sporting Director, who
was instrumental in the return of this historic category to the AFRICA ECO RACE, commented on the start of the race with his legendary enthusiasm and outspokenness: “This Classic category in Africa, in the historic footsteps of the original event with a finish at Lac Rose, is a blessing for the discipline. The playing field is fantastic and Alain LOPEZ, who mapped out the route and determined the zones and average speeds imposed, has done an extraordinary job. The participants are in for a treat and the competition is going to be very competitive.

The Classic race has all the safety, logistical, and media resources that the Rally has to offer. It’s a race that’s just waiting to grow and, in time, it could become the absolute benchmark for the discipline.”

Next, Friday, January 5, another big stage awaits the participants, with 467km of selective sector and just 5km of liaison between Oued Draa and Fort Chacal.

STAGE 3 RESULTS BIKES

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION BIKES

STAGE 3 RESULTS CARS-TRUCKS

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION CARS/TRUCKS

Text, Photo & Video Credits: Africa ECO Race 

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