W2RC Desafío Ruta 40 YPF INFINIA Stage 4 - SCHAREINA NOT GOING DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT
June 06, 2024
Ricky Brabec will take the overall lead into Stage 5 in Argentina.
Image © Edoardo Bauer courtesy A.S.0./E.Bauer/DPPI
Stage 4 of the 12th edition of the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF INFINIA, stretching from San Juan to La Rioja, brought the W2RC caravan to the bivouac at Súper Domo, which hosted the start in 2023.
Among the Rally GP riders, the Monster Energy Honda brothers in arms Ricky Brabec and Tosha Schareina clashed once again, with the title holder in Argentina prevailing by 7 seconds. Overall, the American remains 1′27″ clear of the Spaniard.
Romain Dumontier (Team Honda) claimed his third consecutive Rally 2 stage win ahead of Bradley Cox (BAS World KTM Racing) and bolstered his lead over the reigning champion. In Rally 3, Fernando Hernández (MED Racing) crashed out, handing the lead to John Medina (Xraids Experience). Manuel Andújar remains unbeaten in quads and firmly in control overall.
Tomorrow's stage 5 between La Rioja and Córdoba will span 519 km, including 218 km against the clock.
Ricky Brabec and Tosha Schareina have been locked in a battle of seconds since the start of the rally! On Sunday, the Spaniard won the prologue by 2 seconds over the American, who hit back the very next day, taking stage 1 by just under a second. That was also the gap separating them today at the km 370 time check, the last before the finish. The rider from Valencia eventually won by 7 seconds over the Californian, who retained the overall rally lead. Brabec will start the final special with an advantage of 1′27″ over Schareina and 4′28″over Adrien Van Beveren, third on the day and overall. Their teammate Skyler Howes remains fourth at 9′01″, with Ross Branch fifth as the top non-Honda rider astride his Hero. The Botswanan is 12′26″ back and will keep his Rally GP championship lead tomorrow if he stays in this position. Even so, his margin would shrink to only 9 points on Brabec and 16 on VBA. High-octane drama!
Unbeaten for three days in Rally 2, Romain Dumontier drove the nail home by prevailing in La Rioja and doubling his advantage over Bradley Cox, now 7 minutes adrift. Jiří Brož (BAS World KTM Racing), third, can almost touch the first W2RC podium of his career.
The Rally 3 race saw a change of leader after Fernando Hernández crashed out of the rally. The Chilean John Medina took over and is charging towards a victory that would also hand him the championship lead. The Argentinian Eduardo Alan inherited the runner-up's spot.
FIM STAT: HISTORIC DOUBLE ON THE CARDS
Tosha Schareina took his second win of the week today, but there are other reasons why number 2 is in the spotlight. Two Honda riders lead the FIM standings of the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF INFINIA on the eve of the finish: Ricky Brabec (Rally GP) and Romain Dumontier (Rally 2). HRC, which has just backed the Frenchman in that category, will not regret their choice. Barring any last-minute surprises, Honda will seal their first ever Rally GP/Rally 2 double in Córdoba. Only one manufacturer has pulled off this feat before: KTM at the 2023 Rally of Morocco, won by Toby Price in Rally GP and Bradley Cox in Rally 2.
