After a well deserved rest on the rest day in Ryadh, the Dakar started the second week heading south west to Al Dawasir. This journey of exploration began with about 100 km of dunes in a magnificent succession of ergs. After this intense dune-surfing exercise, the handling and driving got easier, but the labyrinth of tracks was quiet challenging both for drivers and navigators. In total it was 295 kms of liaison and 401 kms of special stage.
For the first time the Cinotto and Pla families drove for a part of the stage together with the French Jean Claude and Jerome Pla finishing 27th, in front of Michele Chinotto and Maurizio Dominella, 28th , and Pietro Cinotto and Alberto Bertoldi in 29th position.
The provisional overall classification sees Pietro Cinotto in P21, followed by Jean Claude Pla in P26 and Michele Cinotto in P33.
« We finished the stage and we are happy because this is our priority but unfortunately we missed two waypoints so the final classification may change », said Pla sr.
It was a challenging day for Pietro and Alberto, CST Polaris Xtremeplus Team as they were doing very well but they damaged the right front arm and they had to slow down. Despite this issue, they were very good to manage to finish the stage in 29th position behind the second CST Polaris Xtremeplus Team Cinotto-Dominella.
« It was quiet demanding stage because after the first part of chain of dunes the landscape changed and there was a maze of tracks which tricky navigations and so much dust that complicated everything », said Michele Cinotto, today 28th.