The Buenos Aires team is already in the third camp of the Ruta 40 2024 Challenge. After covering more than 2,600 kilometers of racing, the Mec Team Racing arrived in the capital of Rioja to have the last night in the bivouac.
The Mec Racing Team arrived in San Juan this afternoon after its drivers faced a long special of 412 kilometers, with a 264-kilometer link between San Juan and La Rioja.
It was a very tough stage, which had everything: rally sections, navigation, dunes, fesh-fesh: a very Dakarian mix, typical of this region of Argentina.
After completing the stage, the times showed that Facundo Viel took second place, 08m16s behind today’s winner and overall leader, Manuel Andújar. Thus, the oldest of the brothers continues to be the runner-up in the overall quads.
Behind him, Mariano Viel finished, who remains firm in sixth place, demonstrating great pace in today’s stage with the top 3 achieved at the arrival in La Rioja.
Cooper Van Vliet, for his part, continues to improve his performance in Rally Raid and today finished in fourth place. The Australian occupies seventh place, just behind his teammate Nano Viel.
Finally, Ayita had some problems in his quad today and had to retire from the special. Until now, he was in seventh place, with chances of moving up more positions. Tomorrow, he will seek to reach Córdoba to complete a new Route 40 Challenge.
This Friday, the representatives of Mec Team Racing will have to face a 519-kilometer stage between La Rioja and Córdoba, with 218 kilometers of timed section that will be key to defining the final positions of the race.
Text: Luciano Schiffer – We are Dakar
Photos: Paco Foto Agencia and Braian Alarcón.
