CARS
After all competitors had there "break day" and many had the luxuries of staying in a real bed in a nice hotel, it's back to the desert and the reality of this grelling endurance race.
Nani Roma in the "virgin Dakar" Prodrive machine continued his strong attack of this rally and takes another impressive P5.
Red Bull sponsored X-RAID MINI JCW TEAM were on fire and certainly picking up their paces as Carlos Sainz sits in P3 and other team driver Stephane Peterhansel pips Sainz into second place of the stage.
But the highlight of the day was the local "homegrown" hero, Jazeed Al Rajhi, in the Overide Toyota that came storming through to win his 1st P1 in this Rally.
LIGHT WEIGHT VEHICLES - our first look thanks to requests from PLN viewers.
Another local Saudi driver was out to impress today in these amazing "dune buggies". Saleh Alsaif in the Black Horse Team machine came through second in topping the time sheets.
Stage ranking - Light Weight Vehicle :
1 - FRANCISCO LOPEZ CONTARDO / JUAN PABLO LATRACH VINAGRE (SOUTH RACING CAN-AM)
2 - SALEH ALSAIF / ORIOL VIDAL MONTIJANO (FN SPEED - BLACK HORSE TEAM)
3 - REINALDO VARELA / MAYKEL JUSTO (MONSTER ENERGY CAN-AM) Stage ranking - SSV :
1 - FRANCISCO LOPEZ CONTARDO / JUAN PABLO LATRACH VINAGRE (SOUTH RACING CAN-AM)
2 - SALEH ALSAIF / ORIOL VIDAL MONTIJANO (FN SPEED - BLACK HORSE TEAM)
3 - REINALDO VARELA / MAYKEL JUSTO (MONSTER ENERGY CAN-AM
TRUCKS
Team "Kamaz Master" continue to show why they use the word "Master" in the name as they, again, take P1,P2 AND P3 on the 7th stage, the Marathon Stage. But it was the Master of the Masters, Dmitry Sotnikov, that was again on top. His 5th stage win of the rally, so far.
The Czech team in the Prada Truck driver by Loprais though, are keeping up the battle with the Russians and they pulled through an impressive P4 during one pf the rallies longest stages.
BIKES/QUADS
A chilly and early start for the bikers in this stage, and it was the Monster Energy Honda Team that dominated this long mileage stage in this unforgiven terrain, with Ricky Brabec and Jose Ingacio taking P1 and P2
The Honda works team did suffer a major blow though, when Ross Branch, its leading rider in the standings, crashed just 31km into the stage. Branch was eventually able to repair the bike and take the finish, but lost over 40 minutes to his rivals and is now out of top 10 contention. This clip just shows how easy things can turn from "good to bad" in the blink of an eye, and to see the Botswana driver clearly upset, shows the passions involved in this challenging event.
Xavier De Soultrait had another powerful day and is slowly catching up with the overall leaders and he's in a strong fourth position.
