In T2, there was a change in the overall classification, where Laurent Rosso and Fabian Lurquin have now taken the lead ahead of their team-mate Jean-Pierre Strugo. “The pace was high from the start, very fast. We caught up with a ‘hare', and stayed with them for 50 km. Then we got into that infernal canyon, and didn't know how to get out. For about 15 minutes, we had a real ‘gardening session' before Fabian got us back on the right heading. From there until the end we were rather tense, thinking we had lost a lot of time. However, there was a good surprise when we found we had taken the category lead. No problems with the car today, and no punctures… »

In T2, there was a change in the overall classification, where Laurent Rosso and Fabian Lurquin have now taken the lead ahead of their team-mate Jean-Pierre Strugo. « The pace was high from the start, very fast. We caught up with a ‘hare', and stayed with them for 50 km. Then we got into that infernal canyon, and didn't know how to get out. For about 15 minutes, we had a real ‘gardening session' before Fabian got us back on the right heading. From there until the end we were rather tense, thinking we had lost a lot of time. However, there was a good surprise when we found we had taken the category lead. No problems with the car today, and no punctures… »

Thomas Loussier was the big loser today. After getting lost, plus two punctures and brake problems, the crew of the nr 254 car is now lying 5th overall. Bernard Irissou could not hide his disappointment at the finish line. Thomas explained the day's adventures : « Having looked for the right track for a long time, we finished up getting a puncture. Getting back into the car, I noticed that the brakes weren't working. And while driving without brakes, sliding, I hit a rock.. so we got a second puncture, around 100 kilometres from the finish. We couldn't make any more mistakes, as we had no more spare wheels. It seemed a very long time from there until the finish ! »

Tomorrow, between Al Qaryat and Idri, the stage will be full of variations. It will include technical sections, fast parts and, at the end, the first dunes to cross, over a timed stage of 459 km.

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