Jan 8th: Stage 6 Copiapo > Antofagasta

This is the first of the rare special stages in which all categories will compete. At the start of the race, the most confident drivers will be able to take advantage of the fast tracks to try to move up in the overall standings. But the temptation to do so may be risky, particularly in the hard-to-handle fesh-fesh areas where absolute self-control is the only guarantee of success. Overtaking here requires precision handling to the extreme.

Second two minutes behind Airat Mardeev at the start in Copiapo, Eduard Nikolaev has done the necessary on the route to Antofagasta to pick up a deserved second consecutive victory as well the lead in the general standings. The Kamaz driver beat his countryman by almost ten minutes whilst Byelorussian Siarhei Viazovich takes the day’s third place fifteen minutes behind the winner. In difficulty on the second half of the special, Andrey Karginov is now battling for third place in the general standings with Ales Loprais 27 minutes behind the leader.

Today’s best Tatra driver was Tomas Vratny with his yellow/black Bonver Jamal Tatra; he finished 8th.

Stage 6 was a disappointment for Martin Kolomy. The best Tatra truck driver loosing 1 hr 15 min.