Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah in action with co-driver Mathieu Baumel during yesterday’s round.
Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah yesterday set the fastest time at Rally Kazakhstan 2019 - the third round of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies - strengthening his lead in the overall standings.
Dutchman Bernhard Ten Brinke climbed to second spot while Polish pilot Jakub Przygonski holds third overall. The length of the third section Rally Kazakhstan 2019 was 327 kilometers.
Yesterday, the rally-raid participants passed the ring road to the east of Kenderli. Through the dunes and rocky roads, the crews went out into a picturesque rocky valley, where a high-speed section was waiting for them along the Ustyurt plateau.
The best time was shown by the pilot from Al Attiyah, breaking the track in 3 hours 9 minutes and 11 seconds. This victory allowed the duet of Al Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel to strengthen the leadership in the overall standings of pilots and break away from the close competitors of Bernhard Ten Brinke and Jakub Przygonski for 12 minutes.
A key factor in the Qatari victory, according to experts, is his prudent driving style and close-knit teamwork.
“It was very important for us to win today in order to increase the gap between other race drivers. It was not so simple, but I am happy. I didn’t drive too much, because this stage is more technical and demanded a lot of navigation,” Al Attiyah said yesterday.
The first ever Dutchman to win a Dakar special stage behind the wheel of an off-road vehicle, Bernhard continues to demonstrate an impressive desire for leadership in the Rally Kazakhstan 2019. The race driver, taking into account yesterday’s result, rose from fourth to second place in the overall standings.
“Today I started the second race, after Nasser, I saw dust from under the wheels of his car. But we had a tire puncture, we changed the wheel. After that, we safely drove the rest of the special stage and finished. I am pleased with the result, but there are still three days of races ahead, ”said Ten Brinke after the finish.
The current champion of the World Cup for Cross Country Rallies Jakub Przygonski passed the third special stage quickly and efficiently.
