Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah and his co-driver Mathieu Baumel powered into the lead of Rally Kazakhstan after yesterday’s second selective section, the Toyota Hilux Overdrive duo taking the stage win and a four minute 32 second advantage. Jakub Przygonski and Timo Gottschalk finished the section third and moved up the standings into second, despite a puncture woe.
Rally Kazakhstan, the third round of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies, is the longest event in the series and yesterday’s stage was also the longest of the six-day rally. An epic 414.22 kilometre section lay in wait, taking the crews from the Kinderly bivouac over a mix of fast tracks and soft dunes at an average speed of more 100kph over nearly four hours of competition.
Al-Attiyah, starting second on the road, powered through the section, catching overnight leader Yazeed al-Rajhi after 150 kilometres before hitting the dunes. The Qatari finished the stage nearly two minutes ahead of his rivals to take the overall lead.
“It was not easy navigation but I’m happy we have a good lead,” he said.
Qatar’s Mohamed al-Meer/Alexey Kuzmich top the T2 standings in a Toyota Land Cruiser.
Another 327.47 kilometre section lays in wait for the participants in the third leg of Rally Kazakhstan today.
Qatar’s al-Attiyah
