Balkanabat, Turkmenistan, September 11th
The leader overall Nasser Al Attiyah won his third stage and increased his lead over Carlos Sainz. In the trucks race Vladimir Chagin won his third stage as well, but he still hasn’t any chance for the victory.
On his way to Balkanabad Nasser Al Attiyah went against his nature, the leader of the race restrained his ardour and drove through the SS quietly, but has controlled his competitors. The winner of yesterday Carlos Sainz went in the head of the string on a sandy path. Nasser Al Attiyah went right after him, track in track, but didn’t even try to pass him. Seven km before finish Nasser punctured a wheel, but didn’t stop and finished with the flat tire. Nasser is still winning by 4 min 56 sec on the overall standing, so he has the best chance to win the race, because ahead we have just one meaningful stage to Turkmenbashi tomorrow.
Russian crew Misikov – Zhiltcov is 4 hours behind but they are the best among “non VW”. The Russian drove with confidence and is leaving behind Ilia Kuznetsov by 46 min overall.
In the trucks race Chagin didn’t want to see nobody around him ! He drove his truck completely alone. The four Volkswagen were well ahead and the rest of the pack far from him. On the finish he showed the best result again, passing ahead of his closest competitor Eduard Nicolaev, beginner from KAMAZ-master, by 6 min. Blue trucks monopolize the podium again. Firdaus Kabirov the leading overall got 3rd in today’s SS. Ales Loprais got 4th and who moved ahead of Mardeev for 3rd spot overall. In spite of his 5th place today, De Rooy, stucked in the dunes, is still the second overall.