It was a difficult New Year’s Eve for the participants of the Africa Eco Race. The third stage, which was the longest of this edition, took place on the Atlas Mountains, and then in the huge dunes of the Chegaga erg. Then was the Iriki lac, in the direction of Foum-Zquid.
The truck category was eventful as well. Winner of last year’s edition, the Hungarian Miklos Kovacs (Scania), in a good form from Nador, literally broke his truck few meters after an oued. In a bad situation, “the giant of the Danube”, will probably have to give up.
The Portuguese Elisabete Jacinto took the lead again in spite of some mechanics problems, but she will have to be wary of another Slavonic. Winner of the day, the Czec Tomas Tomecek (Tatra) took the advantage thanks to his huge experience in the desert and in Africa in particular. The Belgian Noel Essers is the third guy of this stage, the day of his 67th birthday.