OiLibya Rally of Morocco – October 13-19, 2013
For immediate release
Monday, October 21st, 2013
DABROWSKI, RAKHIMBAYEV AND ISSABAYEV FINISH FIFTH, SIXTH AND
EIGHTH OVERALL IN OVERDRIVE RACING TOYOTAS IN RALLY OF MOROCCO
· Pole Marek Dabrowski claims fine fifth place in gruelling desert event
· Kazakh Team Astana duo in sixth and eighth positions
· Dutchman van Merksteijn Snr. forced out before fourth Moroccan stage
ERFOUD (Morocco): Overdrive Racing Toyotas filled fifth, sixth and eighth overall at the conclusion of a gruelling OiLibya Rally of Morocco in Erfoud on Saturday.
Former Polish enduro riders Marek Dabrowski and Jacek Czachor led the way in a fine fifth overall.
The Kazakh duo of Aidyn Rakhimbayev and Bauyrzhan Issabayev, partnered by their respective Russian and Kazakh co-drivers Konstantin Zhiltsov and Gabdulla Ashimov, claimed sixth and eighth in the overall rankings.
Dutchman Peter van Merksteijn Snr. and Belgian navigator Eddy Chevallier retired the fourth Overdrive-built car before the fourth stage, as a result of damage sustained in an incident on the previous selective section.
“This rally was a very good training ground for the Dakar,” said Overdrive Racing director Jean-Marc Fortin. “Marek showed an excellent turn of speed and so did Aidyn. To finish fifth and sixth without any problems at all was a satisfying performance. Crossing the large dunes was a great test for the next big race in January.”
Rakhimbayev slotted into second position behind eventual winner Orlando Terranova through the opening 203km selective section. Issabayev, van Merksteijn and Dabrowski were seventh, eighth and 11th and handily-placed to challenge through the second 240km stage last Tuesday.
The Kazakh lost over 20 minutes through the second timed test, as Overdrive Racing team mates van Merksteijn, Dabrowski and Issabayev finished the special in seventh, eighth and 11th positions. Terranova retained the overall lead and the Toyota Hilux quartet held sixth, seventh, eighth and 10th overall.
Wednesday’s third stage of 250km was the last of three loop stages around Zagora and Terranova consolidated his overall advantage on a stage where the four Overdrive cars of Dabrowski, Rakhimbayev, Issabayev and van Merksteijn finished the timed section with the sixth, eighth, 10th and 19th fastest times. They held eighth, sixth, ninth and 10th overall, but Van Merksteijn’s car was damaged beyond repair and he was forced out of the event.
Thursday’s selective section of 295km headed from Zagora to Erfoud and Vladimir Vasilyev won the special, with Dabrowski, Rakhimbayev and Issabayev finishing in fifth, ninth and 12th positions. The trio were classified in sixth, fifth and eighth overall.
Terranova was the quickest driver through the penultimate 310km special between the Erg Chebbi and Oued El-Mader and Rakhimbayev and Dabrowski produced solid performances to take the fifth and sixth quickest times. Issabayev finished the section in 17th and the trio maintained sixth, fifth and eighth in the general classification heading into Saturday’s final 219km selective section around Erfoud.
A speeding penalty for Terranova reduced his overall lead to just 59 seconds, but the Argentinean held on to take the overall win. The eighth, ninth and 10th quickest times for Rakhimbayev, Dabrowski and Issabayev ensured that they reached the Erfoud finish in sixth, fifth and eighth overall.
This year’s NPO-organised rally comprised six legs and 1,517 competitive kilometres in a total route of 2,051km.
Ends
For further information: contact Jean-Marc Fortin (E-mail: jmf@overdriveracing.be), Overdrive S.A., rue de la métallurgie 37, 4530 Villers-le-Bouillet, Belgium, Tel: + 32 475 762 391. www.overdriveracing.be