Stage 3 Puerto Madryn - Jacobacci
Total length: 694 km
Liaison: 70km, special: 551km, liaison: 73km

Even though it was another tough day for the MAN Rally Team, things were definitely looking better than they were during first two days. During this third stage to Jacobacci, team Hans Stacey were fifth to cross the finish line at +00:18:05 min from today’s Russian winner Chagin in the Kamaz. Franz Echter came in 8th at + 00:22:10. Geert Verhoeven ended in a 19th position with a +1:12:18 delay.

Today the participants were put to a serious test of no less than 551 km, which was shortened even by the organisation by 65 km. The Patagonian ground is extremely broken, but it was still as fast as it was on the first two days. Navigation did become more important today. This leg, the race was on between Chagin and De Rooy. Team Stacey maintained its position near the top drivers fairly well, and eventually came in 5th.
Hans Stacey: “Due to our problems during the first two days we had to start way down in the back and it is not easy to work your way to the front. Today we have been chasing a Czech for some 30km, and later on we were behind a Kamaz who wouldn’t let us through for about 100 km. Then you’re really driving at your limit and you hit the curb here and there, which cost us another flat, unfortunately. Thankfully, we are now slightly higher up the field again, so we hope we won’t be having these problems tomorrow so much. Speed isn’t a problem, we got that nailed.”
 

The results of the 3rd stage:
1. 501 CHAGIN (RUS) KAMAZ 05:15:59 (00:00:00)
2. 505 DE ROOY (NLD) GINAF 05:19:23 (+00:03:24) 
3. 506 KABIROV (RUS)  KAMAZ 05:23:11 (+00:07:12) 
4. 503 VAN GINKEL (NLD) GINAF 05:32:00 (+00:16:01) 
5. 500 STACEY (NLD) MAN 05:34:04 (+00:18:05) 
6. 527 VAN DEN BRINK (NLD)  GINAF 05:36:53 (+00:20:54) 
7. 508 MARDEEV (RUS)  KAMAZ 05:37:23 (+00:21:24) 
8. 507 ECHTER (DEU)  MAN 05:38:09 (+00:22:10) 
19.526 VERHOEVEN (NLD) MAN 06:28:17 (+01:12:18)
 
The overall list of rankings after 3 rally days reads:
1. 505 DE ROOY (NLD) GINAF 10:56:14 (00:00:00) 
2. 506 KABIROV (RUS) KAMAZ 11:04:00 (+00:07:46) 
3. 501 CHAGIN (RUS) KAMAZ 11:05:42 (+00:09:28) 
4. 508 MARDEEV (RUS) KAMAZ 11:34:20 (+00:38:06) 
5. 504 DE AZEVEDO (BRA) TATRA 11:51:46 (+00:55:32) 
6. 527 VAN DEN BRINK (NLD) GINAF 12:05:09 (+01:08:55) 
7. 520 SPACIL (CZE)  LIAZ 12:05:39 (+01:09:25) 
8. 507 ECHTER (DEU) MAN 12:06:51 (+01:10:37) 
9. 518 DUISTERS (BEL) GINAF 12:16:15 (+01:20:01) 
10. 500 STACEY (NLD)  MAN 12:23:35(+01:27:21)                                                                  
28. 526 VERHOEVEN (NLD) MAN 14:38:51 (+03:42:37)