South Racing guided one DMAS Ford Ranger to the finish of the OiLibya Rally of Morocco, while the German car preparations’ company also oversaw and ran a Nissan Navara to a top 10 finish through six gruelling days of the African cross-country classic, which finished in Erfoud on Friday afternoon.
The German duo of Jürgen and Maximilian Schröder were the highest-placed of the South Racing finishers in an excellent 10th overall in a Nissan Navara.
The Chilean pairing of Hernan Garces and Juan Pablo Latrach completed over 1,300 competitive kilometres in 14th overall in the first of the two DMAS South Racing Ford Rangers. The Czech duo of Tomáš Ouřednīček and Pavel Vaculīc, meanwhile, broke an input shaft on the penultimate stage in the second Ford Ranger but were unable to tackle the final stage and complete the rally because Pavel Vaculīc became ill before the start this morning.
“It was a good race for the team and great experience for everyone on one of the toughest races in the calendar,” said South Racing’s managing director Scott Abraham.
“There were two very solid performances by Jürgen and Hernan, but it was disappointing that Tomas could not complete his first desert rally in the Ford Ranger after a good showing for the first four days. “I take this opportunity to thank all the team for their efforts as we now switch our attention to the final round of the FIA World Cup in Portugal later this month.”
The competitive action began with a technical seven-kilometre Prologue stage, near Agadir, that was won by Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah. The two DMAS South Racing Ford Rangers crews stayed out of trouble, with Ouřednīček and Garces posting the 14th and 25th quickest times. Schröder was classified in 18th in the Nissan.
The opening day in the desert was split into two short stages of 69km and 50km in length and the DMAS South Racing duo of Ouřednīček and Garces emerged unscathed in 19th and 22nd overall, while Schröder held 23rd.
The route then headed deep into the interior and competitors got their first proper taste of the rigours and perils of North Africa on the second selective section of 291km with a treacherous section of dune crossings near the stage finish.
It was an excellent day for the DMAS and South Racing trio and Schröder reached the overnight halt and the end of the first part of the Marathon stage in 14th overall, with Ouřednīček and Garces climbing to 17th and 18th.
Teams tackled a special of 315km to Erfoud on day three and Schröder and Garces emerged unscathed in 14th and 16th overall, courtesy of the 15th and 19th quickest times. Ouřednīček was delayed after the 200km checkpoint and eventually completed the day in 21st overall.
The penultimate selective section ran in a loop around Erfoud for 319km. Schröder was in excellent form in his Nissan Navara to card the 14th quickest time and he duly climbed to 12th overall. Garces was 15th in the first of the DMAS South Racing Ford Rangers, but Ouřednīček lost time with a broken input shaft and was not able to complete the stage.
Action concluded with a fifth selective section of 230km across the notorious Erg Chebbi before the ceremonial finish in Erfoud. Schröder and Garces recorded the 11th and 14th quickest times to confirm their excellent finishes on one of the toughest rallies in the world calendar. But Pavel Vaculīc complained of illness and Ouřednīček was not able to take up his allotted start time and tackle the final stage.
2016 OiLibya Rally of Morocco – positions after leg 5:
1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 12hr 28min 28sec
2. Carlos Sainz (ESP)/Lucas Cruz (ESP) Peugeot 3008 DKR 12hr 40min 36sec
3. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS)/Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) Mini All4 Racing 13hr 04min 37sec
4. Orlando Terranova (ARG)/Paolo Fiuza (PRT) Mini All4 Racing 13hr 12min 21sec
5. Jakub Przygoński (POL)/Tom Colsoul (BEL) Mini All4 Racing 13hr 38min 03sec
6. Joan Roma (ESP)/Alex Haro (ESP) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 13hr 52min 41sec
10. Jürgen Schröder (DEU)/Maximilian Schröder (DEU) South Racing Nissan Navara 15hr07min 35sec
14. Hernan Garces (CHL)/Juan Pablo Latrach (CHL) DMAS South Racing Ford Ranger 16hr 03min 33sec
DNF. Tomáš Ouřednīček (CZE)/Pavel Vaculīc (CZE) DMAS South Racing Ford Ranger
