2024 Desafio Ruta 40: Toyota Gazoo Racing goes back to back in Stage 3

Toyota Gazoo Racing and Monster Power Honda Rally Workforce had been blissful campers upon wrapping up Stage #3 of the Desafío Ruta 40 on Wednesday. Whereas the latter accomplished one other podium sweep on the bike aspect, TGR scored their second consecutive stage win as Seth Quintero held off Nasser Al-Attiyah for his second profession Final victory.

TGR final claimed back-to-back levels on the 2023 World Rally-Raid Championship-ending Rallye du Maroc with Al-Attiyah. His departure for Prodrive forward of the 2024 season prompted them to sign Quintero and Lucas Moraes, the latter profitable Stage #2 on Tuesday.

Al-Attiyah and Yazeed Al-Rajhi, respectively second and first total getting into Wednesday, battled for the lead all through the primary half of the stage earlier than Quintero entered the image. He rapidly handed Al-Attiyah on the halfway level earlier than he began setting quicker occasions than Al-Rajhi within the remaining 100 kilometres. Quintero rapidly constructed a niche over Al-Rajhi earlier than Al-Attiyah moved as much as second behind him, in the end taking the win by 1:09 over him whereas Al-Rajhi was 2:07 again.

He notched his maiden stage win within the Final class on the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in February. Nonetheless, he stays a distant fifth within the total and trailing Al-Rajhi by 28:06 after shedding time in Stage #1 when he went off beam to keep away from spectators and went right into a ditch.

On the bike aspect, Honda completed 1–2–3 once more with Ricky Brabec, Skyler Howes, and Tosha Schareina. After a gradual begin as a result of colder climate, Brabec hit his stride within the second half and overtook Howes for the lead; Howes beat Schareina by eleven seconds for the runner-up spot. Together with his second stage win, Brabec now leads Schareina outright by 1:34 with Honda allies Adrien Van Beveren and Howes behind.

“It feels good to get one other stage win, though in rally raid you don’t all the time wish to win as a result of some days you wish to open the stage and others you don’t,” commented Brabec. “I began out somewhat bit gradual right this moment as a result of I used to be freezing however after refuelling I realised I wanted to step up a bit and put the gasoline on. I made push and it labored so it was day to take my second stage win however tomorrow I get to open once more however I’m cautious the final day will probably be a most assault day for hopefully a podium.”

Daniel Sanders battled with the Hondas for a podium spot however got here up quick. His GasGas team-mate Sam Sunderland retired as a consequence of blurred imaginative and prescient in his eye, a predicament that additionally compelled him out of the 2023 Rallye du Maroc.

Rokas Baciuška‘s Challenger win streak was snapped as he completed fifth, seven minutes behind. On their residence turf, Argentines Nazareno López and Nicolás Cavigliasso went 1–2, the previous scoring his first W2RC stage win.

David Zille led Challenger within the opening kilometres earlier than a mechanical concern brought about him to fall off the tempo and pressure him out altogether. Juan Cruz Yacopini reached the end a day after rolling his Toyota Hilux, however “made a mistake” whereas making an attempt to move one other automotive within the remaining seventy kilometres that resulted in terminal injury.

Together with his Stage #3 win, Ricardo Ramilo took the SSV total lead from Enrico Gaspari with a four-minute benefit. Sebastián Guayasamín, nonetheless determined to get previous the retired Yasir Seaidan within the championship, sits third. Rebecca Busi was fourth after battling a “very drained” engine and getting misplaced.

Manuel Andújar almost doubled his Quad benefit over Facundo Viel from eighteen minutes to thirty-two after profitable whereas Viel completed third. Cooper Van Vliet rebounded him his Prologue crash to position runner-up.

Stage #3 winners

Leaders after Stage #3