KTM Warsaw Rally’s Pablo Quintanilla tops the Copiapó Dune stage to regain the overall lead in the Atacama Rally.
KTM Warsaw Rally’s Pablo Quintanilla had the Copiapó Dunes wired today as he scored his second stage win of the 2015 Atacama Rally and moved back into the overall rally lead in Chile.
Quintanilla completed the stage with a time of 3 hours, 3 minutes and 13 seconds, finishing the special 2 minutes and 17 seconds faster than Red Bull KTM’s Matthias Walkner and 7 minutes and 59 seconds faster than Red Bull KTM’s Jordi Viladoms.
Although Red Bull KTM’s Toby Price enjoyed another top-five stage finish today, completing Stage 3 in fourth place, he was forced to start the stage from last place, as he had incurred numerous speed limit zone infractions during Stage 2–22 to be exact! The resulting penalties have dropped him outside of the top 10 and ruined his chances for a World Championship rally win in his debut as a full-factory Red Bull KTM pilot.
There was more difficulty for Team HRC, as lead rider Paulo Goncalves could only muster the fifth fastest time of Stage 3. Goncalves had to contend with a pack of riders in the Copiapó Dunes after opening the Stage. He was swallowed up after kilometer 30, and although he still finished fifth, he was over 17 minutes behind Quintanilla, and he failed to insert himself back into the top 10 overall.
Stage 4 of the Atacama Rally will take the competitors to Huasco, with a total route of 378.44 kilometers including 273 kilometers against the clock.
2015 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship
2015 Atacama Rally
Atacama, Chile
Results: September 3, 2015 (Round 5 of 6)
Stage 3
1. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI)-KTM/3 hours, 3 minutes,13 seconds
2. Matthias Walkner (AUT)-KTM/+00:02:17
3. Jordi Viladoms (SPA)-KTM/+00:07:59
4. Toby Price (AUS)-KTK/+00:14:32
5. Paulo Goncalves (POR)-Hon/+00:17:17
6. Felipe Prohens (CHI)-Pro/+00:18:17
7. Antoine Meo (FRA)-KTM/+00:18:47
8. Jeremias Israel (CHI)-Hon/+00:19:28
9. Sam Sunderland (GBR)-KTM/+00:20:48
10. Daniel Gouet (CHI)-KTM/+00:21:07
2015 Atacama Rally Overall Results (After 3 of 5 stages)
1. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI)-KTM/6 hours, 13 minutes, 10 seconds
2. Matthias Walkner (AUT)-KTM/+00:00:45
3. Sam Sunderland (GBR)-KTM/00:22:29
4. Antoine Meo (FRA)-KTM/+00:32:30
5. Daniel Gouet (CHI)-KTM/+00:39:38
6. Jordi Viladoms (SPA)-KTM/+00:43:32
7. Felipe Prohens (CHI)-Pro/+00:52:07
8. Jeremias Israel (CHI)-Hon/+01:02:13
9. José Cornejo (CHI)-Suz/+01:03:06
10. Mohammed Albalooshi (UAE)-KTM/+ 01:05’24