Tuesday, July 28 2017
Stage 10: Hami – Dunhuang
Road connection: 87,41 km – Special stage: 360,28 km – Road connection> 69,84 km – Total: 517 km
Sometimes life brings you great things and these 10 stages of the Silk Way Rally will remain marked in the minds of Eugenio Amos and Sebastien Delaunay!
This morning, when the 2WD Buggy #115 left the bivouac in Hami, Eugenio and Sebastian were far from thinking that 500 km after, they would get their names in the legend as they would mark their first stage win!
After 87 km or road connection, Eugenio Amos started the special stage in the 6th position on its fast tracks in a favorable terrain for the 2WD buggy and for his driving skills. “After 100 km, tells the 32-yrd old Italian, I felt really comfortable and it makes me feel very pleased to win the special stage. I saw that the dust of the other competitors in front of us wasn’t far, and even if I knew I was getting closer to them, I felt I could do this…”
Further in the stage, competitors attacked a dry river for many kilometers, the track was erased and they were off-road and then, through the end of the especial stage, the track became sinuous in the mountains.
“Navigation didn’t have any enjoyment, with many changes of direction, but Sebastian never makes mistakes. We have never been lost, and he is always calm when I get nervous in the car, and that is really something!” Says Eugenio as he laughs.
“Before the finish, as the 2WD passed the Peugeot cars that got lost in front of him, he saw a track without any traces, and Eugenio shows his emotion. “5-km before the finish line, I was crying like a baby, I didn’t see anything anymore, I had tears in my eyes. I made it, this is incredible! I felt it, I knew I could do this, but when I did, it was a feeling that is very hard to describe, it is so special. The 2WD team is a small family structure, not a factory team! I am so happy for Nicolas, Benoît, Francis et Christian who works every minute to ensure the 2WD buggy is made to new every single day! This is a great day for everyone!”
STAGE 10 / PROVISIONAL RANKING
1. AMOS/DELAUNAY BUGGY 2WD en 3h 24’24 – (5th in the provisional overall ranking)
2. Alrajhi/Colsoul MINI à 0’46
3. Merzies/Mortensen MINI à 2’16
4. Després/Castera PEUGEOT à 2’20
5. Lavieille/Garcin BAICMOTOR 3’32
Follow the 2WD Buggy live http://www.silkwayrally.com/fr/main.html
