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Orpi Maroc 2006 Special-Newssection
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This is the single-news section of the
marathonrally.com rally-live special of the Orpi Maroc rally 2006.
To see all news please use the link under the article or navigate
with the left main-navigation.
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Orpi Maroc: Two Nissan Pathfinder lead the T2 category.
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Once again, two timed sectors made up this third day of racing, between Ain Beni Mathar and Erfoud. With a frantic battle going on for the lead of the overall classification, the fight in Production category is also full of interest. Christian Lavieille and Arnaud Debron can now count on two fine team-mates within Team Dessoude in order to strengthen their lead in the T2 category. Therefore, Thomas Loussier, currently second in the category, and Stéphane Wintenberger, fourth, are keeping watch on the leading Nissan Pathfinder.
The weather was kind to the remaining competitors in this 7th edition of the Orpi Morocco rally. With a hard day of racing between Ain Beni Mathar and Erfoud, the day was divided into two stages, of 175 and 72 km respectively. For Team Nissan Aventure, the first timed sector posed no particular problems. Unfortunately, on the second stage, the support for the rear left shock absorber broke, slowing considerably the progress of the Team Nissan Aventure car.
However, the damage was limited, as this evening Christian Lavieille and Arnaud Debron, despite this incident, were able to increase their lead in the Production category. Thomas Loussier, Christian?s team-mate and friend, claimed second position, moving in between Team Nissan Aventure and Antoine Maze Sencier, their main rival in the World Cup. An interesting position from a strategic point of view.
Despite today´s incident, Christian Lavieille is still confident: "The first special stage of the day was superb. There was quite a lot of navigation involved, but the terrain was particularly varied. We drove well, at a good pace, and without going crazy. We kept our concentration high, in order not to make the same silly mistake as yesterday. This paid off, as we set the best time. Things got a bit more complicated in the second stage. Fifteen kilometres after the start, on a very fast track, I felt as if I´d got a puncture. We stopped, and saw that the tyres were OK; but that the support for the rear left shock absorber had given way. We had no choice but to carry on with three shock absorbers. Driving very carefully, as the sector was full of potential traps, we finished the stage and limited the damage, having even gained two minutes on Antoine Maze, who is now 17 minutes behind us. My team-mate Thomas Loussier, is now second. Tomorrow we´re heading for Zagora and perhaps there´ll be a bit of sand".
A much more serene Arnaud Debron crossed the finish line today, the day having been to his liking: "For once, the stage had a lot of navigation, but I didn´t mind, it was very nice. There were a few traps which had not been pointed out, but globally the road book is good. On the second stage, we drove slowly because of our broken shock absorber. But we were lucky this happened on the second special stage, which was only 72 km - on the first stage it would have been a lot more serious, and we would have certainly lost much more time."
On Saturday, the rally caravan will continue towards Zagora, in the south east of the country, with just one special stage on the programme. Temperatures should be higher, and the competitors will have to be careful not to overheat, both under the bonnets and in the cockpits.
2006/06/03 I 19:48 CET I Editor: marathonrally.com/Dessoude
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