The Portuguese driver Elisabete Jacinto reached the sixth place among the trucks in the seventh and penultimate stage of the Morocco Desert Challenge, which took place today between Boudnib and Matarka, having improved 10 positions compared to yesterday’s special. In this journey, composed by 410 timed kilometers, the Portuguese spent 5h11m55s just 17 minutes more than the Czech Ales Loprais, the winner of today’s stage among the T4 and that continues to lead the overall classification of the class, and only seven cars were faster to complete the selective sector than the Bio-Ritmo® team.
The trio composed by Elisabete Jacinto, José Marques and Marco Cochinho managed to fulfill the whole special without problems to register and with a good rhythm, although they had some impediments in the progression in the stone tracks due to the lack of shock absorbers. Missing only one day until the end of this great African rally the Portuguese keep the seventh place in the classification of trucks.
Elisabete Jacinto revealed that the day was a positive: « The stage went very well. The special had pretty good terrain and so we managed to go well. As we no longer have shock absorbers it becomes more difficult to drive quickly. But as the course was favorable we printed a good pace and we never got lost, although it was a day with a difficult navigation. We still had time to help a team that had the car rolled over. We gave a little push and managed to put the car on all four wheels. The rally is coming to an end and the truth is that I wanted to do better, but we did our best and what was possible » said the driver.
Tomorrow will be disputed, between Tendrara and Oujda, the eighth and final stage of the Morocco Desert Challenge 2018. Consisting of 220 timed kilometers, this journey, although shorter, requires full concentration and perfect navigation. Maintaining focus is the key because the tracks will be fast and hard to find. At the end of the day a great party awaits competitors at the bivouac.
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