Out of contention but still fighting for position in Abu Dhabi

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings recorded the second-fastest time on Stage 4 of the 5-stage Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in their GR DKR Hilux T1+. They completed the penultimate stage simply 6min 59sec behind the eventual winners, but stay out of contention in the general standings following their withdrawal from the second stage of the race as a consequence of a boost-related problem.

Out of contention but still decided in robust circumstances

“Overall, it was a tricky stage. Things started off very fast and flowing, with blind crests and dunes. The start was actually delayed by two hours because of mist, so it was a bit dangerous in the beginning. And then when it got going, it was fast flowing stuff near the start, with really dangerous drops making things very difficult. We couldn’t find a rhythm really early on and the confidence just wasn’t there. In one or two places, we had to take different routes to get across the big, soft dunes. Towards the end we started to get a little bit of a rhythm, but stayed on the safe, careful side, so it was a good stage to learn from.”

Henk Lategan after the stage

Stage 4, the penultimate take a look at of the 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, was the longest of the occasion, at 308km. There have been additionally two brief liaisons becoming a member of the stage to the bivouac at Qasr Al Sarab, but the true take a look at lay in the a number of dunes and sandy tracks of the timed part.

ALSO READ: Back in motion: Lategan and Cummings return to Abu Dhabi desert

Henk and Brett reported no technical difficulties with their GR DKR Hilux T1+ all through the stage, and managed a quick tempo regardless of the tough terrain. With that mentioned, Henk and Brett are primarily collaborating in this race in order to realize expertise in some of the hardest dunes in the world, and as such the pair felt that they aren’t at full tempo simply but.

With that mentioned, they discovered it troublesome to ascertain a rhythm early in the stage, presumably as a consequence of a begin that was delayed by misty climate, grounding the helicopters and forcing the race organisers to attend for higher circumstances. The TGR crew battled on by way of the early components of the stage, finally settling into tempo, and bringing their automobile to the end with out incident.

Given the time misplaced as a consequence of their earlier withdrawal, Henk and Brett are in 31^st position total. Thus, they continue to be out of contention for an total podium position but will proceed to be taught through the closing stage of the occasion.

ALSO READ: Disappointment in Abu Dhabi for Lategan/Cummings

“It was a difficult stage for Henk in the beginning, but he got settled in despite a lot of changing conditions. In the end, he recorded a brilliant second place – just what he needed to do to get the important kilometres to learn some of the most difficult dunes in the world. So yeah, he did a great job and gaining experience all the way, which is what he is in Abu Dhabi for.”

Glyn Hall, TGRSA Team Principal

Stage 5 preview

The fifth and closing stage of the 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge stretches between the Qasr Al Sarab bivouac and Abu Dhabi metropolis. There are liaisons of 29km and 135km earlier than and after the particular, which includes 206km of dunes and sandy tracks. As with Stage 4, the terrain will probably be tough, with very mushy sand.

Stage 4 outcomes

Overall standings after stage 4

Published by Toyota South Africa on MotorPress

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