Today second stage for Pharaons Rally, the longest of the race with 599 km, 442 of which of Special Stage. Casteu and Verhoefen run together for the entire stage: the win is for the Dutch leaving behind the French champion. Third place for Matteo Graziani, more determined than yesterday. Luca Manca, seventh, is still in first position in 450 before Zanotti. Among the cars, Christian Lavieille is unattainable and has an advantage of half an hour from Jerome Pelichet. Problems for Carlo Degavardo.
In the longest stage of eleventh edition of Total Pharaons Rally, the hot has been less oppressive than yesterday. For this reason, the departure from the Baharija bivouac has been advanced of half an hour, with David Casteu, yesterday's winner, who at 6.30 has been the first to start the long special stage. The French champion, leaving in delay, was soon reached by his team mate, the Dutch Frans Verhoeven: the two have led together the race, imposing as yesterday a high pace, reaching the finishing line together. The win has been for the “Flight Dutch” who, having left
behind, has preceded of 1'50” the first rider of Vectra Team. It has been his first win in a world race and, for him, it was also the first Pharaons: his happiness was immense.
Today Matteo Graziani recovered brilliantly of the yesterday's disappointing race and finished third with a gap of 13 minutes and half from Verhoeven. He preceded of a minute the young Polish Jakub Przygonski, one of the best in the restricted group of the best both as rider and co-rider. Fourth and fifth place for two Romanian of Vectra Team, Emanuel Gyenes and Marcel Butuza.
For few seconds, Luca Manca obtained the seventh absolute position and, as yesterday, has been the fastest in 450
class. Today, only eighth Oscar Polli, who has preceded the Polish Czachor, while Alex Zanotti, tenth, is also third in 450. Excellent race for the private Marco Sartori, eleventh at the finish line.
Unlucky stage for Paolo Ceci: the Modena rider of Aprilia, after only 20 km, fell breaking the handle, driving for only one hand for 180 km.
In general classification, Casteu is the leader of the category open with 3'16” on Verhoeven, while Manca is the leader in 450 class with a gap of two minutes from Zanotti.
Among the cars, it has been the day of return match for Christian Lavieille (Nissan Proto Dessoude). After having left space yesterday to Carlo Degavardo (Chevrolet D-Max), today the French has been the best. Difficult stage for the four-wheel, but not for the ex champion of Endurance, who has established a gap of half an hour from the runner-up. Third place for Jerome Pelichet (Bowler Wildcat) who has a gap of 18 minutes from the Buggy VW of the Dutch Albert Michiels. Fourth position for the father of Jerome, Edmond Pelichet, who drives the reliable English cars.