The three turbo-charged diesel cars in the Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart continued to show their sturdiness on the fourth leg with a 389km special, linking the towns of Jacobacci and Neuquen, in the most westerly part of Patagonia. The duo made up of Alphand & Picard finished third, followed by Roma & Cruz fifth, and Peterhansel & Cottret, eighth.
Today`s stage had to be modified at the request of a local land-owner, and so the first 79km were a liaison. In spite of this change the special kept its variety and got more demanding as it worked its way north towards Neuquen, across a region known for its important remains form the paleolithic period.
Luc Alphand & Gilles Picard started from 15th place after yesterday`s result, but they found a way to get past other cars and moved their Racing Lancer decorated in the Repsol colours up to third position. This result means that the Repsol drivers rose two places in the overall, they are now eighth, 41 minutes behind the leader Carlos Sainz, winner of today`s stage.
Nani Roma & Lucas Cruz finished fifth, a little over a minute ahead of the pair made up of Peterhansel & Cottret, who with today`s eighth position stay in fourth place in the overall classification, 15 minutes 41 seconds behind Sainz. Roma & Cruz stay fifth, 20 minutes behind.
After four days of the competition, 56 of the 531 participants that started have now withdrawn, just when the most demanding part of the race is about to start. Tomorrow, a special that is over 500km long, on a terrain that is even more demanding. But the drivers get a chance to take on their first sand dunes as the Andes beckon.
Dominique Serieys, team director
“I am happy for Luc because, for the first three days, he was not able to be on the pace he was today. Both our other cars had two punctures, but we intend to stay quiet. The front two (Sainz and Al-Attiyah) are pushing like hell, so let’s see what happens over the next two or three days.”
Luc Alphand >> Audio
“I was worried this morning, because I lost so much time yesterday and I knew that I had to try and make up some of that time today. The wind was okay and was blowing at an angle where the dust was not a problem. I can say a big thank you to all the other drivers. They all moved out of the way with no problems. I was thinking last night about my position. On the Dakar Rally in the past, being 30 minutes’ behind so early on is nothing, but I was wondering whether this could be different. Maybe it will be this close in the top 10 all the way. We have some dunes tomorrow and I am quite happy for that. We will see…”
Stéphane Peterhansel >> Audio
“Today was not easy. I was running well and had a good pace, but I got two flat tires and that cost me the time.”
Nani Roma >> Audio
“It was not easy in the dust with the bikes. But this is not like Africa. There has been no piste so far, just flat tracks. It is a bit like WRC so far, but it was okay until I got one puncture on the back right side about 20km from the end of the stage and I lost about three minutes. At least I have stayed in contact and the next three days will be difficult. It is important to stay quiet and not make a big mistake.”
