MAN With a Mission Team Member Hans Stacey today claimed his fifth stage victory in the Trans Orientale Rally and so increased his lead in the leading overall standings among the trucks. Posting a time of 4h54'27, he crossed the finishing line before fellow-Dutchman Bekx (5h02'33) and the Spaniard Vila Roca (5h22'04).

During today’s 268 km long special, Stacey maintained his lead over the other trucks most of the time, with Bekx and Vila Roca hot on his heels. For a short while, Coquelle seemed to be in the lead at checkpoint 4, but he failed to complete the trial. The fourth place was taken by Stacey’s German teammate, Franz Echter. Former MAN With a Mission driver Philippe Jacquot finished in fifth place.

1. Stacey          4h54’27
2. Bekx             5h02’33
3. Vila Roca      5h22’04
4. Echter          5h52’28
5. Jacquot        5h57’40

The difference with the number two in the leading overall standings, Spaniard Vila Roca, is almost 3 hours, and with only three more days to go, it looks as if MAN Team Stacey could become the overall winner. A line-up of the new leading overall standings:

1. Stacey          32h35’33
2. Vila Roca      35h28’33
3. Bekx             36h46’28
4. Echter          37h56’41
5. Jacquot        39h12’53

The last mile is, of course, always the longest one, but the level of the rally is not getting any easier either. Tomorrow, the competitors will be facing huge sand dunes once again, this time in the middle of the Badain Jaran desert (southern Mongolia). Tomorrow’s 202 km long special from Alxa Youki to Schakgd includes a devilish descent over a distance of 120 km, in which the difference in height between the start and the end can be compared to a building that is 50 storeys high. Some of the sand dunes along the route are up to 500 metres high. The exceedingly difficult route which runs between the dunes and the salt lakes will be extremely taxing, for both the drivers and the navigators. The end of the stage will be slightly easier, but that is, of course, a relative concept in view of the high level at which the rally takes place.