The second stage of the South African Safari Rally, with 357 timed kilometers, lived up to its marathon designation and was a tough day for all the drivers.

Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz (Ford Raptor), who started second in the special, faced the usual handicap of this type of stage. They could only count on the wake of the previous day’s winner, Lategan (Toyota), and despite this they had a good stage, without losing too much time and achieving a good starting position for the third stage of the rally, which will be held tomorrow.

After completing the 357 kilometers, the Red Bull drivers finished in twelfth position, twelve and a half minutes behind the winner, Botterill (Toyota). In the overall standings, they are in eleventh place, just 4 minutes and 31 seconds behind the leader, Quintero (Toyota).

Carlos Sainz: “In today’s stage, we started in front, opening the track. It was quite complicated, there were a few places where it was difficult to see where we had to go. But another day, we are still ahead and with 4 minutes and a little ahead of the leader, and there are still three days left”.

Tomorrow will be the third stage, the second part of the marathon. It will be similar to the second stage already held this year, with open savannah areas, many dirt tracks and some more navigation. There will be 246 timed kilometers, with a liaison of 272.