After the gearbox failure in stage 3, JalanMarronesFenek was able to resume participation in the race starting from special stage 4 and continuing into stage 5.
Stage 4 was the longest overall, considering the liaison section, with a total of 813 km, of which 337 km were timed. The maze of tracks gave no rest to the co-drivers, though the focus remained on the sheer pleasure of driving.
Stage 5 covered 662 km in total, with 456 km of special stage.
JalanMarronesFenek Truck
Fourth Stage
In the fourth stage, our team showcased the skills gained during the previous specials, pushing themselves to improve and set their best time yet. Javier Jacoste managed to maintain a solid pace through most of the stage, but upon reaching CP4—just short of the finish line—the crew of the MAN No. 524 heard a worrying noise that forced them to stop the truck.
After identifying the issue (a faulty valve), Dakar assistance towed them back to the bivouac, where the Boucou team worked through the night to get the vehicle ready.
Departure for Stage 5 was scheduled for the following morning.
Time to rest!
JalanMarronesFenek Truck
Fifth Stage
The fifth stage began in Riyadh and ended in Al Qaisumah. In this stage, several factors contributed to reducing the average speed, including a significant stretch of dunes and numerous rocky sections that almost guaranteed punctures for those who pushed too hard.
Our team started under a lot of stress but, like true professionals, managed to stay composed and handle the situation perfectly.
The JalanMarronesFenek team maintained a strong pace through the L3 and L2 dune sections, where the MAN GTR Rally truck exceeded everyone’s expectations.
Lluís Rosa: “I must say that today Javier Jacoste worked incredibly hard. It was a stage where anticipation and coordination had to come together perfectly, and the driver couldn’t have done a better job.”
Our team heads to rest very satisfied!
JalanMarronesFenek Truck
