HOME > Latest News > 2026 > Issue #12
Issue #12:January 15, 2026
The second day of the Marathon Stage took competitors from the basic bivouac “REFUGE,” located north of Bisha, to Bisha. The 420 km SS (competition section) proved to be one of the most challenging sections in the second half of the rally, with endless stretches of complex dunes, including soft sand and steep descents.
Despite getting stuck several times, TLC’s Land Cruisers in the Stock class pushed through with determination. Car #503 with Ronald Basso and Julien Menard finished 110th overall in the 4-wheel category and 4th in the Stock class, with a time gap of 31 minutes 35 seconds to Land Rover Defender #500, who is 3rd in class. Car #501, driven by Akira Miura with Jean‑Michel Polato, followed and supported #503 through to the finish, safely clearing the stage 112th overall and 5th in class.
As a result, the cumulative standings are as follows: Car #503 now sits 81st overall in the 4‑wheel category and 3rd in the Stock class, with a time gap of 1 hour 48 minutes 46 seconds to the second‑place Land Rover Defender #504. Car #501 is currently 127th overall while holding 5th in class.
The SS began near the basic bivouac and almost immediately entered sand dune terrain. With conditions shifting rapidly, from crossings over ergs (sand ridges) to partially collapsed dunes and steep descents. After the midpoint, smaller dunes formed by the white, powder‑soft sand sediments in wadis (dry riverbeds) added even more difficulty to the route.
For car #503, steering‑system trouble reappeared, forcing Basso to manage with intermittently heavy steering. Meanwhile, car #501 continued to support #503 from behind, coming to assist whenever #503 became stuck. Working together, the two vehicles made it to the finish.
Afterward, a 45 km liaison brought the crews to the Bisha bivouac, where they reunited with the support staff who had traveled the previous day via the assistance route. The mechanics had been eagerly waiting for the vehicles’ arrival and immediately commenced work.
On January 15, the rally will head far north from Bisha to Al Henakiyah, a long 882 km transfer day that is set to include 346 km of competition.
(Provisional rankings as of 3:00 AM Japan time on January 15th)
Miura (Driver): The Marathon Stage was a tough one, and very much in the spirit of the Dakar Rally. It’s a pity, because I had hoped we might be able to catch up with our rivals even a little. Today, whenever car #503 got stuck, we would catch up from behind to assist, and there were even a few times when we ended up getting stuck ourselves during those attempts.
Basso (Driver): Yesterday we struggled a bit on the final dunes, but the car itself had no issues. Today the steering trouble resurfaced, but I’m glad we made it to the finish safely. Only three stages remain, and I want to make sure we fully clear them.