Surprises in the dunes
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Leg 3 TSARINE
The leg in the dunes shakes up the rankings, making space for new Gazelles…
Rallye regulars Team 190 (Anne-Marie BORG / Yolande BENS - CONSTRUCTIONS DU SUD OUEST - CSO) finish the leg in top spot with just 6.37 kilometres over the ideal distance. They are closely followed by Team 140 (Camille BERCHON / Sophie Takenouti - Groupe BR MOTORS) with only 7.03 kilometres: a solid performance for the Gazelles who seemed quite anxious on the start line. But they will need to keep an eye on Team 200 (Jeanette JAMES / Murielle TARRAZI - Bumper Off Road), who have not had their last word with 7.65 extra kilometres. The next leg may be crucial in shaping the top of the podium.
First Participation teams show their mettle in this difficult leg marked by surprises. Team 191 (Léa BAUDIER / Alia BOUCHAMA - BMCE BANK) climbs a spot with just 11.94 kilometres over the ideal distance: a personal victory for Léa, who thought “she could never do it”. Team 156 (Marlène VILOTTE / Valérie DUBOURDY - LITTLE BRIDGE) enjoy their first podium finish with second place, less than 2 kilometres behind the leaders. Bravo to the Gazelles of Team 179 (Carine POENTIS / Sophie CLANET - Exm company), who do not get stuck once, allowing them to achieve a good performance and a nice rise in the rankings.
Quads/SSV, queens of the dune leg
The Quads/SSV are the stars of the day, with stellar performances such as the 3.01 kilometres made by the seemingly unbeatable Team 29 (Elisabeth KRAFT / Sonia BAUDOIN-GUERARD - POLARIS FRANCE). Will this be another victory for Betty, who already has 12 to her credit? Team 25 (Véronique DE SYBOURG-SIFFERT / Laurence BRASEY - Michel Riedo&Fils SA) also put in a good performance, with just 4.79 kilometres. The Corsican Gazelles of Team 23 (Angèle CECCALDI / Noelia FRANCHI - Camping Sole E Vista) finish third, 1.03 km behind them.
There is movement in the rankings for E-Gazelles Class. Team 510 (Stéphanie GUERRY / Carine POISSON - ZOE) gain a spot, finishing the leg with 24.91 kilometres over the ideal distance, seven kilometres ahead of Team 505 (Aurélie DARD / Stéphanie PERUSSE - Intermarché Gaillard (74)), who also climb by one spot. Unfortunately, Team 502 (Virginie HENRIOT / Lucile ASSIE - Sète Agglopôle Méditerranée), who led the rankings for two days, fall to third place after a poor performance in the dunes, where they ended up driving an extra 60.48 kilometres.
In Crossover Class, Team 313 (Karine DRIRA ROGEZ / Audrey JOVER - INEHA Finance) hold onto their top position. In the dunes, where they had a special route adapted to their vehicles, the two Gazelles end up with 18.96 kilometres over the ideal distance. Team 312 (Frédérique ROBYR / Malika SCHMALZ - Consortium Entreprise Générale Patrick Schmalz et Dhome SA) trail them by almost 10 kilometres. The gap is even wider for third place, with 76.61 kilometres.
