The second stage of 2024 Taklimakan rally is the solo of the auto category. Due to the tough situation in the first stage and also for the safety reason, the stage 2 for the moto category is cancelled, the moto pilots can enjoy an extra rest day.
SS2 is a loop stage, starting and finishing point both located in the Maikiti #39 desert scenic area. The special stage first passes through a short sandy zone, then leaves the tangible road and enters the vegetated desert, where located the low dunes. After about 30 km, the stage enters a sandy area with no vegetation and is relatively clean for the nevigation. 20 kilometers before the end of the special stage is a section of undulating sand mountain. Driving across the sides of sand dunes is suggested to make the driving easier.
Han Wei, in his #117 racing car, continues his good performance of the last 2days and arrived at the bivouac as the first. « The first stage was very difficult, so I played a safe card today. I lowered the tire pressure and ran at a slower pace to conserve energy for the later stage. As a result, I found it very easy and smooth in this stage. N39 was previously known as the ‘devil stage’. I failed in the previous two years. Today I had the best performance in the past three years. We look forward to winning the champion, but rally race is full of unknowns. All we can do is maintain a good rhythm every day. »
Tao Yongming, in his #132 car is the second to arrive. « I was the eighth to start and the second to arrive, passing four or five cars in the stage. The road went very smoothly today and the track was not particularly difficult. Yesterday I got stuck in the sand, it’s horrible. I found that the #39 stage does have its own unique charm. »
Tao Yongliang continued, « Today I really enjoy the rally and Jiujiang’s new racing car is very powerful. Every time I come to the Rally to win the champion, but when I come here, I find that I could meet with old friends and catch up, this is the real brotherhood to me. »
Tomorrow, the SS3 will also be a loop stage around Maikiti desert. The pilots of the Moto category will join the auto, to take the challenge of the No. 39 special stage!
Classification Auto SS2 : 1. Tao Yongming (CHN) / Shen Xin (CHN), JJ Race, 3H40’54 ; 2. Zhang Guoyu (CHN) / Li Pengcheng (CHN), Yun Xiang, +1’34 ; 3. Lu Binglong (CHN) / Gao Zhenwei (CHN), JJ Race, +3’32…
Overall Classification Auto after SS2 : 1. Han Wei (CHN) / Ma Li (CHN) Red-line, 7H17’02 ; 2. Tao Yongming (CHN) / Shen Xin (CHN), JJ Race, +20 ; 3. Zhang Huijun (CHN) / Peng Yibo (CHN), CR6, +11’47…
Classification Moto SS1 : 1. Neels Theric (FRA), KOVE, 3H18’42 ; 2. Yuan Bo (CHN), KTM, +50’57 ; 3. Abbas Gapal (CHN), YAMAHA, +1H01’07…