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Issue #13:January 17, 2025
On this day, the Stage 11 loop starting from Shubaytah featured full-fledged dunes. Different courses were set for the Bike, Car, and Truck categories in the dune area east of the bivouac. For the Production Car (Stock) category, which belongs to the Car category, the slightly shorter course was used, which was also used by the Truck category.
The journey began with a 200 km east-bound liaison (transfer section) on sealed roads from the bivouac. From there, the 126 km SS (Special Stage) started, winding through the dunes south of the sealed roads towards the finish line in the west. After finishing the SS, the route rejoined the same sealed road used on the way and returned 111 km west to the bivouac.
The dunes were not extremely high, but the soft, dark brown sand dotted with vegetation made the SS very challenging for the team’s vehicles, which are based on production cars with a lower ground clearance.
In this final hurdle of the rally, the TLC Land Cruiser 300 cars carefully navigated the course. Akira Miura and Jean-Michel Polato in car #500 attacked the dunes by occasionally detouring tens of kilometers to find another way around, demonstrating their strong determination and intense focus as they persevered through the stage. They finished 108th in the Car category and 1st in the Production Car (Stock) category. As for the cumulative ranking, they are in 83rd place overall in the Car category and have maintained their 1st place in the Production Car (Stock) category.
Meanwhile, Ronald Basso and Jean-Pierre Garcin in car #501, who had their drivetrain component issues fully repaired on the previous day, started smoothly but struggled to find a climbable route, but they kept trying, often taking large detours. It took them 5 hours to cover 70 km, causing significant delays, but they managed to return to the bivouac in 158th place in the Car category, and 2nd in the Production Car (Stock) category, with a cumulative position of 107th overall in the Car category.
On the 17th, the final stage will be held on a 62 km route south of the bivouac, followed by a goal ceremony, which is scheduled to be held at the podium within the bivouac.
Driver Miura: The sand was noticeably softer than last year, making it extremely difficult to cross the dunes. I feel the experience has made us stronger, and Polato’s support was invaluable. I want to stay focused and go for a solid finish on the final day.
Driver Basso: We had to detour about 40 km and tried multiple times to cross each dune. In a vehicle based on a production car, it proved to be an extremely difficult stage for us.