REPORT – ETAP-5
START OF THE GOBI DESERT DUEL – ETAP-5 REPORT
The final half of the scheduled rally battle has finally started. The overall SS distance is 2,700 kilometers and the rally so far has only used up about 900 kilometers. The morning briefing message, “Rally Mongolia starts here!” really got that feeling across to everyone. How well everyone saved their bodies and vehicles so far will predict the race outcome.
Today’s SS will be a full-size course of 572 kilometers. Though it has high speed sections, it is a grueling test of endurance such as in SS2.
In spite of all this, the Can Am Maverick X3 driven #113 TURTOGTOKH came in first in this SS at 6:07:52 giving him an expanded overall margin of 30 minutes. #111 BOLDBAATAR in his Pajero Evo aiming for a higher placing had to retire due to mechanical trouble. The Chinese rider on the KTM1090 through pushing hard also had to drop out.
The Japan side with Matsuno and Tashiro was running well as usual. They are in 11TH place overall as the long duel in the Gobi continues.
ROUTE INFORMATION – ETAP-5
■ ETAP-5 15 AUG. 2019 ALTAY⇒ALTAY
■ L：2.97km SS-1：278.68km L：8.02km SS-2：293.45km L：22.21km TOTAL：605.33km
「Altay and Ring Wandering」
The first half of the rally was along a mountainous course that slowed the pace and is a fight with frustration finally ending at the check point.After that, you run along a high-speed piste (unpaved track or road) and head full speed to the west. Your route extends far away to the west.The first half of SS-2 is a high-speed dirt road. Proceeding along a wide valley between mountains you finally see a lake and the lakeside town comes into view. You pass through the edge of town on a hard road surface that is barely drivable and then along a high-speed dirt track.On reaching a town at the base of a mountain, you go along a maze-like road and run along piste with many dried riverbeds from the side of a stadium. There are many boulders and you can’t seem to pick up the pace.After reaching a small town, you make a CAP adjustment and drive along a high-speed dirt road. This long SS has come to an end.The liaison takes you down the mountain and on crossing the bridge, you drive along a paved road to the bivouac.PHOTO – ETAP-5
Breaking Photo of ETAP-5. – 速報写真
RESULTS – ETAP-5