Maikiti (Xinjiang, China) – Kashgar – Maikiti: 397,96km
Liaison : 144,7 km – SS : 150,66 km – Liaison : 102,61km
The 2024 Taklimakan Rally competitors has experienced their first stage with the whole bivouac moving from Kashgar to Maikiti. Though the special stage is only 150.66 kilometers, the hot weather, the changeable terrain and the fesh-fesh makes all participants suffer during the first day.
In the auto category, Han Wei, who currently holds the record for the best time by a Chinese driver in international races, took first place in yesterday’s SSS and started the first in the car category today. He finished today also at the first place, followed by Zhang Guoyu and Ma Yuan.
« The special stage is mad up basically of mud, soft sand, fesh-fesh with invisible pits in between, and it was very hot, » Hai Wei said during the post-match interview. « This stage is very difficult, as difficult as the Dakar stage. The first stage gave all of us a lesson, in the middle of the race, I had to stop to deflate the tires as the tire pressure increases due to the hot weather. »
In the moto category, most of the pilots arrived at the finish line later than expected, due to the tough situation inside the stage. French pilot Neels Theric, who finished third in the motorcycle category on his first Taklimakan Rally last year, continues his good performance this year and finished this stage as the first, followed by Yuan Bo and Abbas Gapal.
« Although the stages are difficult, I enjoy the whole process. My GPS screen suffered from technical problems so during several minutes I can not look at the roadbook, I lost some time caused by that. » Neels Theric said in the interview. 
Abbas Gapal, from the Sminger Racing team, was participating the Rally for the 3 time and he saw three motorcycles stopped due to the hot weather. « Because of the high temperature, I stopped several times, listened to the sound of the engine, I quickly shut down the engine to cool down, all the way I was praying that the engine works, I don’t want to withdraw! »
Tomorrow, the 2024 Taklimakan Rally will welcome its first 100% sand stage with the special stage of 200.55 km. Another tough challenge awaits for the brave ones!