Mikko Hirvonen and Michel Périn in the #303 X-Raid John Cooper Works Rally have moved up to third overall in the 2017 Dakar after four days of competition. The duo, who had moved up to fourth by the end of stage three, stumbled at the beginning of stage four, but recovered to finish second behind overall rally leaders Cyril Despres and David Castera in a Peugeot.
Stage four, run entirely in Bolivia, started in San Salvador De Jujuy and ended in Tupiza. Its 416-kilometer special stage ran at altitudes as high as 4000 meters and included high sand dunes in some sections. The altitude took its toll on X-Raid’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi, who had led the Mini contingent on day one. He had to withdraw from the stage because of altitude sickness.
Three Minis in addition to the Hirvonen/Périn car were in the top ten at the end of stage four. They included Jakub Przygonski/Tom Colsoul (Mini All4 Racing) in sixth, Orlando Terranova/Andreas Schulz, (Mini JCW Rally) in eighth, Boris Garafulic/Filipe Palmeiro (Mini All4 Racing) in ninth, and Mohammed Abu-Issa/Xavier Panseri, (Mini All4 Racing) in tenth.
Stage five, also run entirely in Bolivia, goes from Tupiza to Orura, running over a variety of terrain that includes two dune sections. After stage six, from Orura to La Paz, the rally will take a rest day on Sunday, January 8.
The series’ website provides in-depth coverage. In the USA the NBC Sports Network provides daily updates.—Brian S. Morgan
