HOME > Latest News > 2024 > Issue #12
Issue #12:January 19, 2024
On January 17, Stage 10 of the rally was held in northwestern Saudi Arabia in hilly terrain on a loop course starting in AlUla. The 371 km SS (competition section) was set up 178 km east of the bivouac in AlUla in the mountains. At high altitudes of 1,000-1,200 meters, approximately 80% of the terrain consisted of gravel. There were many rough rocks and sharp stones which increased the risk of punctures, and together with the navigational difficulty it was a day that demanded a high level of concentration.
TLC, who maintain their current one-two formation in the Stock (Production Car) category, carefully conquered this stage. In the beginning of the stage, Akira Miura and Mayeul Barbet in Car #500 suffered a left rear wheel puncture, but they made no mistakes on the course and had an otherwise smooth run. Driver Miura calmly drove through high-speed sections while taking into account damage to the car’s body and was overall 108th in the Car category and 1st in the Stock (Production Car) category. Ronald Basso and Jean-Michel Polato in Car #501 finished the stage without any punctures and managed to stay on course even in difficult sections; they were 110th overall and 2nd in the category. As a result, the cumulative rankings for Car #500 are 81st overall and 1st in the category, while Car #501 is 116th overall and 2nd in the category; TLC firmly held onto their one-two formation. There are three cars in this year’s Stock (Production Car) category and at the end of Stage 8, Car #501, currently ranked 2nd in the category, was ahead of Car #502, ranked 3rd, by 45h 54m 49s.
On January 18, we eventually enter the final stages of the rally. This will be the longest SS of the rally, with a distance of 480 km from AlUla to Yanbu. The climactic stage will be the final difficult section of the second half of the rally.
Miura (driver): We didn’t have any trouble, but after reaching the finish line in the SS, we checked the left rear wheel that we had punctured and replaced, and one of the hub bolts was broken. Then, during the liaison we felt some vibration, and when we checked it again, we found that two more bolts had broken.
After that, we carefully returned made it back; we are very lucky that didn’t happen during the SS.
Basso (driver): Today was a good day. We had no punctures and didn’t have any trouble. I want to continue with diligence and clear the long stage tomorrow.