The Monster Energy X-raid Team enters the finish straight of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and made another vital step on the way to securing the overall win in the prestigious event. In the penultimate stage, the pairings Nani Roma (ESP) / Michel Périn (FRA) and Krzysztof Holowczyc (POL) / Andreas Schulz (GER) took their MINIs ALL4 Racing to second and third positions respectively. The stage was won by Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser. Stephan Schott (GER) and Filipe Palmeiro (POR) came tenth, with their MINI ALL4 Racing.
Today, the white and green MINI ALL4 Racing of Krysztof Holowczyc worked his way across the sand without encountering any problems – and overall leader Nani Roma in the yellow MINI ALL4 Racing followed close behind. Holowczyc was the second to start into today’s special stage, behind Schlesser and before Roma. And although the Spaniard succeeded in closing in on his team-mate, he opted for staying behind. “I don’t want to take any unnecessary risks, now” said Roma. “Therefore, I followed Krzysztof and quasi let him show me the way.” In the overall standings, Roma holds a 37-minute lead over Schlesser.
Holowczyc also opted for a conservative approach, in today’s special stage. “This rally isn’t an event to really push,” the Pole explained. “So many things can happen in the dunes. Nonetheless, today’s special stage was fun as the driving was really smooth.” In the overall standings, he worked his way up from seventh to sixth position.
Just as his two team-mates, Schott also experienced a virtually trouble-free day. By finishing 10th, he consolidated his ninth place in the overall standings. Consequently all the three MINI ALL4 Racing currently hold top-10 positions.
Tomorrow, the final stage will take the field back to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit. The drivers will have to cover a total mileage of 372 kilometres, including the 296.3-kilometre special stage.
Result stage four:
1st J.-L. Schlesser (FRA)/K. Zhiltsov (RUS) Buggy – 3h 44m 46s
2nd N. Roma (ESP)/M. Périn (FRA) MINI ALL4 Racing – 3h 53m 58s
3rd K. Holowczyc (POL)/A. Schulz (GER) MINI ALL4 Racing – 3h 54m 20s
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10th S. Schott (GER)/F. Palmeiro (POR) MINI ALL4 Racing – 4h 20m 48s
Total result after four stages:
1st N. Roma (ESP)/M. Périn (FRA) MINI ALL4 Racing – 9h 47m 03s
2nd G. Spinelli (BRA)/Y. Haddad (BRA) Mitsubishi – 10h 27m 42s
3rd J.-L. Schlesser (FRA)/K. Zhiltsov (RUS) Buggy – 10h 33m 24s
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7th K. Holowczyc (POL)/A. Schulz (GER) MINI ALL4 Racing – 11h 38m 54s
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9th S. Schott (GER)/F. Palmeiro (POR) MINI ALL4 Racing – 16h 49m 27s
