Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz (Ford Raptor) came from behind in the South African Safari Rally, which today has disputed its third stage with a complicated timed special stage of 246 kilometers in what has been the second part of the marathon stage.

The Spanish drivers were always fighting for the day’s victory in a day marked by navigation and broken dirt tracks. After today’s 246 kilometers, Carlos reached the finish line in second place, just two minutes and five seconds behind the day’s winner, Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia).

This classification moves Carlos and Lucas up to second overall, very close to leader Sébastien Loeb. They are now separated by a minimal difference of 23 seconds at the top of the standings, with two stages to go.

Carlos Sainz: “Finished the marathon stage, everything went more or less in order, without any problems. It was a good day; it is very noticeable to come second and not in 12th position like yesterday. Tomorrow we’ll have to open the track in second place again, but that’s the way the race is, here you pay to be at the front. Otherwise, I’m happy with everything. Now it’s time to move on and concentrate on the two remaining stages”.

Tomorrow, the penultimate day of the South African Safari Rally, will be contested on dirt tracks through the bush. Later on, the route will include narrower and rockier roads as they go deeper into the mountains.