For the first time Slovak Raid Adventure Team became a part of FIA World Cup race last week. The team entered IX. HunGarian Baja with Emirati crew of Yahya Al Helei and Khalid Al Kendi, current leaders of World Cup ranking for production cars group.
In the short Friday prologue the Emirati duo achieved the best time in a group. Saturday’s stage consisted of four selective sections with almost 250 kilometers against the clock. The tracks in the vicinity of the Rába River were due to extremely hot and dry summer hard and rough, the machines suffered a lot.
After the first section, which Al Helei and Al Kendi managed to finish in a good rhythm, a sudden lack of power slowed them down during the second section and the two weren’t able to get to the finish within a time limit. As the service showed it was due to a piece of foil that prevented fuel to flow through the filter. The problem was fixed immediately and duo returned to cope with two remaining sections.
Before the start of the last two Sunday’s sections there was a warning of strong storm approaching the region. The rain only came after the last competitor crossed the finish line so tracks remained hard and dusty. Al Helei and Al Kendi finished the fifth round of FIA World Cup on fifth position in T2 group and thus hardening their lead. In general classification of World Cup they lay on fantastic fifth place.
FIA World Cup continues in two weeks time with Baja Poland and Raid Adventure Team together with team Yahya Al Helei should be part of it once again.
