Four test days over 1,000 timed kilometers (out of the 1,244 predicted) and a challenge with different types of terrain . The second edition of the Andalusia Rally came to an end with a repeated winner among the cars and a novelty in the motorcycles and UTVs. Nasser Al-Attiyah / Mathieu Baumel (Toyota Hilux Overdrive) once again dominated at the T1 FIA and took the lead at the Cross-Country Rally World Cup.
Nasser, commenting at the finish line:
“We showed everybody we are fast and Mathieu (Baumel) did a great job. Always we try to do our best and win races.” Behind them Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Toyota Hilux Overdrive) did well to overcome the problems encountered on the first stage to finish third. Yazeed: “We were unlucky with our puncture but on the other hand lucky because I’m feeling much better after my big crash earlier in the year. Not 100%, but much better. Finally we did a great job and enjoyed ourselves and that’s the most important thing. Thank you to the organisers for a very nice race;” In T3 the gearbox gremlins that afflicted Mitchell Guthrie struck his Red Bull Off Road Junior Team colleague Guillaume de Mevius today as he was heading to almost certain victory, allowing the third member of the team Cristina Gutierrez to take the win on home turf. Cristina: “I feel a little bit sorry for the others because they had some bad luck but finally we did a good job and take the victory. I am a little bit shy but it was incredible all the people cheering me on from the side of the track. This is Spain, my country and it is really nice to win here.” With last year’s winner Aron Domzala (Monster Energy Can-Am) crashing early in the race the T4 battle was set to rage today between Khalifa Al-Attiyah (South Racing) and Austin Jones (Monster Energy Can-Am), with the American starting with a lead of just 01’31. Unfortunately that battle failed to materialise with Jones taking an easier than expected victory. Austin: “We got ourselves together and we went for it and it paid off. I’ve got close to winning in the past but finally we get a win and it feels pretty good.
In the open class victory goes to Martin Van Den Brink (Bas Dakar Team) 10’28 ahead of Jean Olivier Albaret (Pinch Racing) with Jean-Philippe Theuriot (Jean-Philippe Theuriot) 3rd and first car at 11’19