The 2nd Moroccan day of the Africa Eco Race 2018 offered to the competitors the real beginning of the race. On the program a 443 kilometers leg between dunes and stony tracks under a summer sun, enough to disturb the ranking and reveal the favorites of this 10th edition of the Africa Eco Race.

After a short 28-kilometer run that saw the first bike leaving at 7:15 local time Wednesday morning, each competitor joined Merzouga to start the leg. The famous dunes close to the Erg Chebbi offered both navigation and driving difficulties, especially on the sand particularly soft because of the heat. Off-piste, seven dune crossings, rolling tracks... The two highlights of the day were the crossing of the Oued Draa, usually soft at this time of the year, and the Erg Chegaga which was tricky.

Just past the finish line, the winners of the day and overall leaders Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov from Russia (X-raid Mini) threw themselves on bottles of water. Under the eyes of the organizer, they were congratulated by all their staff and some spectators after 04:50:25 hours of race. "You did not even burst, bravo," said Organizer and Rally-legend Jean-Louis Schlesser the former teammate of the best co-driver of the day.

"We're tired, it was a long leg, it's been a long time since we had any," said Vladimir Vasilyev after the stage. "In the dunes it was not easy, the sand was soft and it was brittle. It was a wonderful stage with interesting tracks, thank you Jean-Louis!"

Very nice 2nd place for Mathieu Serradori and Fabian Lurquin (FRA/MCM, LCR30 Buggy) who finished 1:56 minutes after the winner of the day. "We started on a good rhythm, Fabian did a great job, it was very technical navigation. We had a good day with a speed around 200 km/h," Mathieu Serradori told.

Third place goes to Pascal Thomasse and Pascal Larroque (France, MD Optimus Buggy) 14:26 minutes off the lead. "Why are we doing this," Pascal Thomasse laughed. "100 kilometers from here I would have preferred to be at home on my couch! In the dunes it was long, hard and very brittle. I took a normal rhythm to avoid damaging the car, we end the day at our place, without making any mistakes."

Wednesday was a harder day for Gerard De Rooy, Darek Rodewald and Moi Torrellardona (Iveco Trakker) who reach the finishing line 01:05:46 hours behind the leader and falls off the podium.

In the motorbikes category, the race remains tight with an arrival within seconds in between the Norwegian Pål Anders Ullevalseter (KTM) and Paolo Ceci (Italy / KTM). The fight promises to be intense between the two competitors as Ullevalseter takes the lead of the overall standings 3 seconds ahead of his main rival for the final victory. "It was a great leg with lots of dunes," said Ullevalseter. "I caught up with Paolo, thanks to his navigation mistakes, I tried to overtake him but it took me a lot of time because he's really really fast."

"It was incredible," added yesterday´s winner Paolo Ceci. "There was everything in this leg: Sand, navigation, fast tracks... all that can be found in Morocco. Today Pal caught me 30 kilometers from the finish and we drove together. The fight is not over!"

For the less fortunate, the evening also looks very long ... The day's leg revealed everything you can find in the hardest routes in the greatest African raids. They will reach the bivouac very late at night after a very educational experience navigating in the dunes.

First Results SS02 Dar Kaoura - Agdal (478 km) Cars / Trucks

01) Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) 04:50:25 
02) Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin (FRA) + 00:01:56 
03) Pascal Thomasse / Pascal Larroque (FRA) + 00:14:26 

First overall Results after SS02 Dar Kaoura - Agdal Cars / Trucks

01) Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) 05:52:47 
02) Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin (FRA) + 00:07:24 
03) Pascal Thomasse / Pascal Larroque (FRA) + 00:17:32

First Results SS02 Dar Kaoura - Agdal (478 km) Bikes / Quads

01) Pal Anders Ullevalseter (NOR) 05:52:43 
02) Paolo Ceci (ITA) + 00:02:22 
03) Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira (POR) + 00:27:32

First overall Results after SS02 Dar Kaoura - Agdal Bikes / Quads

01) Pal Anders Ullevalseter (NOR) 07:09:09 
02) Paolo Ceci (ITA) + 00:00:03 
03) Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira (POR) + 00:34:43

Photos: Alessio Corradini

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